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Royal Family Consensus: Shattering A Myth?

unable to act, or unwilling?

On the one hand, this was an admission that he could not undertake this alone, and true to bedouin tradition, the shaikhly family (with due deference to seniority) would act as a consultative body. On the other hand, Ibn Saud knew that co-optation could be a more effective means of dealing with inter-familial dispute than open conflict, particularly as he needed to gird against new threats from outside (European powers) and within (the religious zealots known as the Ikhwan were turning into a problem themselves). But he also surrounded himself with expertise, drawing from commoners and foreigners alike. This extended to the succession process, where initially at least, a large body of experts far beyond the family alone was to be consulted.

First to rule after the founder's death was the ineffectual Saud, who was eventually removed from the throne by his brothers. But they were loathe to do so, knowing what a drastic step this was, and only stepped in when the situation became unsustainable. Next was Faysal, who was so well respected, competent and far-seeing at a time of disruption that it seemed unthinkable for any other of the brothers to take his place. After his death, one did, but Khalid had little interest in governing and his reign was short. The most significant event during his time, however, the seige of Makkah by religious extremists, also had the most impact on Al Saud rule over the next half century. After the trauma of 1979, the clerics insisted on having a greater say in affairs, and with the family acquiescing, their own role in choosing a successor was hampered. From then on, one's religious credentials mattered almost as much as experience or suitability, and a vast amount of energy was spent in appeasing the religious establishment (though to the detriment of the country's overall advancement socially and economically).

King Fahd was next in line, as one of the senior and most powerful of the brothers by that time, but he was only one among a rising band of full siblings known as the Sudayri Seven, who would go on to control nearly all the key state apparatus including Defense and Interior. Only the National Guard remained out of reach, and this was under the direction of then Crown Prince Abdallah, who, coincidentally, would take over effective governance after Fahd's stroke in 1995. Abdallah was something of an outsider, having no full siblings and thus no network of support like the Sudayri had between themselves. He was viewed with suspicion, seeming a bit of a religious hardliner, and having stronger ties to the bedouin tribes than to his own family. Later, as king, he posed more of a challenge to his Sudayri rivals, and came into conflict at times with the clerics, but the years until his death were marked by a state of sustained tension. The powerful Sudayri brothers yearned for the throne, but could do nothing - the dilemma they faced was that a united front was impossible. Respect for the institution (and Abdallah's National Guard) prevented any sort of direct confrontation, but at the same time they mistrusted one another too much to advance their several interests. Each wanted the throne for himself, but none were powerful enough on their own to stand up to their brothers, each of whom controlled a vast patronage network and even the levers of state power, which they wielded as personal fiefdoms.

Eventually, old age took both Abdallah and the older Sudayris, leaving Salman (a Sudayri himself). Now free from the constraints imposed by state structure and his brothers' amassed power, Salman (and MbS) can ignore the "traditions" which have grown up since the death of Ibn Saud - powerful princes are few, removing potential challenges, and the public is weary of religious extremism, meaning the family need not rely so heavily on the clerics for legitimacy. The result may be a break from the more recent past, but is also a return to a more traditional mode of Al Saud rule.

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