Modernity and tradition: The Saudi experience Fouad Al‐Farsy. Kegan Paul International, London and New York, 1990, 337 pp.
| Date | 01 May 1993 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1002/pad.4230130207 |
| Author | Richard A. Chapman |
| Published date | 01 May 1993 |
172
Book
Reviews
MODERNITY AND TRADITION: THE SAUDI EXPERIENCE
Fouad
Al-Farsy
Kegan Paul International, London and New York, 1990,337 pp.
Dr Fouad Al-Farsy is a Saudi who has degrees from Beirut Arab University, Portland State
University and Duke University. He has been an assistant professor at King Saud University
and has held a number of important government positions in Saudi Arabia. Since 1984,
he has been Deputy Director of Information in Riyadh. As the author of
Saudi Arabia:
A
Case Study in Development
(1982, 1986), he is eminently well qualified to write
Modernity
and Tradition,
which is both a new approach and an addition to his previous work. The
book could not have been written by a non-Saudi because it required access to official infor-
mation and co-operation from numerous agencies within the Saudi government. The most
important qualities of the book are, consequently, that it presents a wealth of information,
is as up to date as possible and is presented within as easily comprehensible structure.
In his preface, the author sets out aims in writing the book. These are to give a succinct
account of the historical development of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; to provide a useful
reference book; and to provide an overview of his country’s ambitious development pro-
gramme. He achieves his aims and in addition provides occasional comments, indications
of problems as currently perceived in the country, and justifications where he thinks recent
intentions or actions in Saudi Arabia have been misunderstood or misinterpreted by others.
The book’s coverage is substantial and its wealth
of
information is provided in
20
chapters
covering such topics as the geography of the Kingdom; the historical, religious and cultural
background; the judicial and political systems; the organizational structure of government
ministries and agencies; the economy; agricultural and industrial development; social develop-
ment, education and health; foreign relations and the role of Saudi Arabia in the developing
world. Each chapter is well presented, both in terms of its text and its tables and maps.
However, some of the information is variable in terms of dates and detail. For example,
the last available census data are from 1974, when the Kingdom’s population was just over
7
million: but the Agency of Public Statistics in Riyadh has recently estimated the population
in 1990 to be nearly 14% million (p.
2),
and another estimate says that at the present time
more than half the population is under
20
years of age (p. 203). Some information in the
book is amazingly detailed, such as the number of international telephone calls from Saudi
Arabia to world countries by continents in 1987 and their duration in numbers
of
minutes
(p.
228).
However, by drawing attention to these details no criticism is intended: the information
provided is what is available, as comprehensively as possible, usually from official sources,
in
a rapidly developing society. Other developing countries could understandably wish that
they too, could provide information with comparable detail.
What, then, are the shortcomings of the book? First, it would, of course, be nice to know
even more than Dr Al-Farsy tells us. This applies not only to facts where, it must be emphasized,
he serves his readers very well: the problem with all sorts of official information is that it
whets the appetite for more. It also applies to processes. For example, it would be fascinating
if non-Saudis could be given more insight into how the consensus politics of this unique
country actually work without political parties (whether or not they are know as such). The
structures are all detailed in the book; but it is not easy for readers from other cultures
to understand the apparent absence of disagreement within the country that this book portrays.
The second shortcoming, which this reviewer would like to see remedied in revised editions
of
the book, is more critical awareness and lessons from failures or problems solved. Saudi
Arabia’s friends in other countries are aware that its remarkable achievements have not been
without cost or without mistakes. Conclusions from such experiences, if shared, could advance
our understanding of development and be of assistance elsewhere.
Modernity and Tradition
provides no such insights; instead it is a most useful but rather bland record
of
continuous
achievement. This
is,
of course, consistent with Saudi culture and approaches to government.
However, it also adds to the mystery of a country with a unique system of government based
on the Qur’an, an economy funded almost entirely from
oil
reserves, unique achievements
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