Description
For four decades, the Saudi society was shaped by a strict interpretation of Islam that suppressed cinema, music, and cultural expression. Marked by the Islamic Revival of 1979, this era was defined by intense religious rhetoric around gender roles, sectarian identity, and Islamic doctrine, which left an indelible trauma during its reign.
In 2017, a new era began. Under Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia shifted to modernity and globalization by bringing a set of social and economic reforms. In place of the once dominant religious identity, a powerful sense of nationalism emerged among Millennials and Generation Z. Nationalism has brought a degree of cultural liberalization and economic diversification. Socially speaking, it’s softened the Sunni-Shia divides that almost prompted a societal collapse in mid-2010s. The promotion of cultural expression is a renaissance that continues the one cut short in 1979.
However, this transformation carries with it an unexpected side effect. A class of purist nationalists is hijacking the definition of loyalty and Saudi identity with such intensity that it resembles the rigidity of the revivalist period. The sought solution to religious dogma may give rise to a new populist ideology which constricts the meaning of what it is to be Saudi. It demands epistemic and intellectual conformity around the very idea of Saudi cultural identity. The Second Coming of 1979 is a sociological reflection on society, religion, identity, and ideological continuity. It ponders over whether history is being overcome or quietly repeated.
Details
Publisher - BookVAULT Publishing
Language - English
Perfect Bound
Contributors
By author
Ahmed Cassim
Published Date - 2025-11-30
ISBN - 9781806548774
Dimensions - 21.6 x 14 x 2.6 cm
Page Count - 365
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