On December 4th, the WorldBoston community welcomed American journalist Karen Elliott House for an evening of Chat and Chowder. House is a former publisher at The Wall Street Journal, diplomatic correspondent, and Pulitzer Prize winner. Distinguished principally for her coverage on Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, House has interviewed numerous prominent world leaders throughout her career, including Mohammed bin Salman, the subject of her most recent book “The Man Who Would Be King: Mohammad bin Salman and the Transformation of Saudi Arabia.”
At Chat and Chowder, House reported on what she has observed in Saudi Arabia during the past several years. House described a county totally unlike the traditional story—one where religious police has vanished from public life, the plethora of restrictions on women, gender mixing, music, and entertainment have loosened, and the country’s economic structure is totally transformed. House mentioned numerous anecdotes of Saudi Arabia’s progress, from audacious urban development projects like The Line to the country’s first female astronaut.
Following her illustration of the Saudi Arabia of today, House turned to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (or MBS, as he is frequently known by), an admired agent of change, yet controversial for his methods of rule. House offered her expert analysis on what MBS is pursuing, how he has navigated Saudi politics to induce such great change, and what it means in light of controversies such as the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi. To punctuate her analysis, House noted the massive popularity MBS enjoys from his public. House stated that young Saudis in particular are extremely enthusiastic about reforms they see at home, particularly the laxing of social restrictions and a burgeoning private sector.
Her roughly 25-minute talk was followed by a vibrant discussion with the audience. Members raised questions regarding how Saudi Arabia positions itself in wider Middle Eastern geopolitics, what MBS means for Saudi politics for the next 50 years, and how Saudi society will continue to transform. Some responded with measured skepticism towards MBS, which produced a particularly stimulating conversation around how an American audience should judge the Crown Prince.
After the conversation, guests were welcome to a reception, including refreshments and time for networking. The discussion continued, and audience members had a chance to share with each other what they thought of the talk. House remained to give a book signing and was extremely generous with her time the whole evening.
“The Man Who Would Be King” presents a cutting-edge picture of Saudi Arabia, characterized by remarkable social, economic, and political developments which make it unrecognizable to the Saudi Arabia of less than a decade ago. House benefits from countless in-depth interviews with Saudi officials, diplomats, foreign correspondents, and everyday Saudis to explain how a once stagnant kingdom became one of the most dynamic places in the Middle East.
Central to such rapid change is the man who controls everything: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. House grapples with how one should conceptualize the revolutionary, soon-to-be king: Is he one of the great transformative men of history or just another tyrant? Is he mainly driven by ideals or Machiavellian calculation? House describes a dynamic ruler who relentlessly modernizes his country yet ruthlessly jails political opponents. Beyond illustrating the state of Saudi Arabia of today, House attempts to understand who Crown Prince Salman really is and what motivates him to totally transform his kingdom.
