Pure power grab. The Crown Prince wants to tackle corruption? His own Sudairi clan within the Royal family (e.g., think King Fahd) was by far the most corrupt. Abdullah`s side of the family was far less corrupt and yet the Crown Prince has gone after that side by purging his sons from the National Guard force.
What would “corruption” even mean in a country where patronage politics is the norm, and most citizens either have no job at all, or “work” for the government? With thousands of parasitical princes?
Corruption and honesty are culturally specific concepts. But some cultures just objectively work better than others.
So, yes. We can pass judgment on their culture as a whole. Especially when it has consequences for us. We can apply our standards to them - specifically, judge their standards by ours.
I favor the approach that won the Cold War. Just stop propping them up and focus on containing them while they self destruct. It seems cruel, but everything else leads to even greater human misery.
Now the Iran China deal makes more sense. It wasn’t about ending the war in Yemen (I hope that happens, though), it’s about negotiating with the US. Shrewd
On one hand they talk about science, creative collisions, the House of Wisdom in Baghdad in history, how they are contributing to the global community etc. at places such as KAUST, etc. then they act like uber-fascists/Vichyites that send academics packing over very small disagreements (hardly woke activism).
Then they shouldn’t market it as a place where creative collision occurs and where start-ups are welcomed to scale up. Not that it will happen despite unlimited cash. Despite Saudization, the Saudis, even at senior levels and Aramco executives, are almost child-like in their inability to spot talent and interact with professional foreigners. You are either their slave or enemy. Pure Wahhabism ideologies even at the higher levels.
They saw something in a young @TT, actually I found there was a variety but the guys at the top where I was were quite switched on
I was surprisingly well treated, especially considering my age and qualifications at the time. I think about going back there when Taiwan dries up for me
)