Saudi Arabia A Country Study - Hardcover

Saudi Arabia: A Country Study is a comprehensive guide to the history, culture, politics, and economy of Saudi Arabia. The book provides an in-depth analysis of the country's geography, demographics, and religious traditions, as well as its political system, foreign policy, and economic development. It offers a detailed examination of the Saudi Arabian monarchy and the role of Islam in the country's governance, as well as the challenges faced by the government in maintaining stability and promoting economic growth. The book also explores the country's relations with the United States and other major powers, as well as its role in the Middle East and the broader Islamic world. Written by the Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, Saudi Arabia: A Country Study is an authoritative and informative resource for students, scholars, policymakers, and anyone interested in understanding one of the most important countries in the Middle East.The Saudi population is characterized by a high degree of cultural homogeneity and by an equally high degree of social stratification. The territory that in 1992 constituted the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia consisted of four distinct regions and diverse populations. Each region has sustained some measure of nomadic and seminomadic population: as recently as 1950, at least one-half the total population of the kingdom was estimated to be nomadic. Tribal identities were paramount among the nomadic population and among those in towns and villages who recognized a tribal affiliation. The Eastern Province had a substantial Shia (see Glossary) population with cultural links to Iran, Bahrain, and other places in the gulf region, as well as an Indian, Yemeni, and black African component (see Shia, this ch.). Asir was more closely linked to Yemen than to Saudi Arabia both by population and geography.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.