Product Description

In June 1916 outside the Grand Mosque at Mecca, the Arab Revolt was proclaimed by the Sharif of Mecca, Hussein ibn Ali, with Britain's full backing of his authority and leadership. Ten years later, on the very same spot, Abdul-Aziz ibn Saud was inaugurated as the Sultan of Najd and King of the Hijaz. In this book the authority of these two leaders, Hussein of the Hijaz and Ibn Saud of Najd, is examined and related to Britain's role in the region during the Great War. The author argues that foreign intervention may affect the political structure of a country, but cannot for long sustain its leader in power if the leader does not have a supportive political base with its operating machinery. In the setting of Arabia in the early 20th century one key requisite in gaining power was the leader's ability to mobilise the various social groups to work for the interest of the state. Ibn Saud successfully induced his social groups to identify their interests with those of his religio-political state, whereas Hussein alienated his social groups by neglecting his religious role as Sharif and adopting pan-Arabism as his state's ideology. In the contest for power between these two leaders, Ibn Saud's political strategy triumphed and established him as the master of the whole of Arabia. Drawing on a wealth of documentary sources, Dr Haifa Alangari provides an original comparative study of the struggle for power in Arabia against major political forces that reshaped Arabia and the map of the Middle East.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2548802 in Books
• Published on: 1998-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 290 pages

Review
'... the book is a highly original study which opens new perspectives in understanding the Arabian affairs at that crucial period in the history of Arabia.' -Acta Asiatica, Varsoviensia, No. 13, 2000 'The author has written an interesting account of an important period of Arab history.' -U.S.I Journal

About the Author
Haifa Alangari gained her Ph.D. in politics from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at the University of London. Though a successful businesswoman living in Jeddah, she devotes part of her time to writing.

Customer Reviews

A Struggle for Power
Ms. Alangari has produced a master work of analysis and synthesis that describes the factors involved in Ibn Saud's rise to power in spite of the weakness and original lack of cohesion and motivation among his followers and the strength of his enemies. Her research is all-encompassing: her references and bibliography are more complete than those in any other work covering the decade in question. Her conclusions regarding the nature and foundation of the political authority of the two major protagonists appear indisputable. I quote the penultimate sentences in the book: "Ibn Saud succeeded because he developed a finely-honed clarity of vision in a religiously devout society. It was this mutual affinity between Ibn Saud and his extended social groups which provided the necessary social consent to end over one thousand years of Hashemite rule. The book is not for the casual reader, but the specialist will find ample reward in a careful study of its content

A Struggle for Power
Ms. Alangari has produced a master work of analysis and synthesis that describes the factors involved in Ibn Saud's rise to power in spite of the weakness and original lack of cohesion and motivation among his followers and the strength of his enemies. Her research is all-encompassing: her references and bibliography are more complete than those in any other work covering the decade in question. Her conclusions regarding the nature and foundation of the political authority of the two major protagonists appear indisputable. I quote the penultimate sentences in the book: "Ibn Saud succeeded because he developed a finely-honed clarity of vision in a religiously devout society. It was this mutual affinity between Ibn Saud and his extended social groups which provided the necessary social consent to end over one thousand years of Hashemite rule." The book is not for the casual reader, but the specialist will find ample reward in a careful study of its content