May 18, 2023
In our previous chat, we discussed how Iran’s form of government is a republic in nature, similar to our own republic, but is decidedly authoritarian in substance. In today’s chat, we are discussing Saudi Arabia, a country that lacks those same institutions in favor of an absolute monarch. Leading a country of roughly 38 million, the Saudi king is the head of the ruling family that dates back over 300 years to the First Saudi State. What do you know about how this country was formed and how it is ruled? What type of legislative body does Saudi Arabia have and how are its legislators chosen? What role does Wahhabism play in every aspect of the Saudi government? How is this country looking towards the future through its Vision 2030 effort? To help us unpack these questions, we are delighted to have Ilan Berman, Senior Vice President of the American Foreign Policy Council in Washington, DC, join our all-star student panel for this exciting discussion.