In episode 47, the hosts welcome on Dr. Mark Thompson and Dr. Neil Quilliam, authors of a new book on Saudi Arabia’s governance and policymaking, for a fascinating discussion on how decision-making is changing and evolving at all levels in Saudi Arabia as Vision 2030 continues apace.
Before the conversation with Dr. Thompson and Dr. Quilliam, the hosts discuss how an upstart golf league, financed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), has disrupted the genteel world of golf. The 966 hosts continue their coverage and reaction to the early success of LIV Golf and its Saudi backers, and also talk about the changing view of Saudi Arabia through the media’s depiction of the Kingdom.
The hosts wrap up this week’s episode with six top storylines from the week to get you updated heading into the weekend.
Listen to the full episode now:
Watch our conversation with Dr. Mark Thompson and Dr. Neil Quilliam on YouTube here:
The research, titled “KSA Reputation: How Vision 2030 is Rebranding the Nation,” released last month by global media intelligence provider CARMA, showed that the Kingdom’s “transformative vision had put it in a more positive light than 15 months ago.”
8:02 – Strap in everyone, because all the drama surrounding the new Saudi-backed LIV Golf tour came to a head this week. Lucien’s one big thing is recapping all that’s going on with LIV Golf, including the surprising announcements this week and what’s to come for the well-funded, upstart competitor to the PGA Tour.
Here’s who is IN…
Bryson DeChambeau, the 2020 U.S. Open Champion, is joining the LIV Golf Invitational Series, a source confirmed to ESPN on Wednesday.
Patrick Reed, the 2018 Masters champion, is also joining the LIV series, according to multiple reports.
Dustin Johnson, recent 2020 FedEx Cup Winner and Master’s Champion…
Phil Mickelson, who won the 2021 PGA Championship…
…and others.
Governance and Domestic Policymaking in Saudi Arabia: Transforming Society, Economics, Politics and Culture is a new book by Dr. Mark Thompson and Dr. Neil Quilliam, both experts in the field. The book is truly as described in the forward: unique in its breadth, with case studies from across different sectors including labour markets, defense, health, youth, energy and the environment. Each analyses the challenges that the country’s leading institutions face in making, shaping and implementing the tailored policies that are being designed to change the country’s future. In doing so, they reveal the factors that either currently facilitate or constrain effective and viable domestic policymaking and governance in the Kingdom. The study offers new and ground-breaking research based on the first-hand experiences of academics, researchers, policy-makers and practitioners who have privileged access to Saudi Arabia. At a time when analysis and reportage on Saudi Arabia usually highlights the ‘high politics’ of foreign policy, this book sheds light on the ‘low politics’ to show the extent to which Saudi policy, society, economics and culture is changing. The 966 speaks with Dr. Neil and Dr. Mark about their book and important research on Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia’s gross domestic product grew 9.9% in the first quarter, the fastest in a decade and more than a flash estimate last month of 9.6%, official data showed on Tuesday, according to Reuters. It was the fastest expansion since the third quarter of 2011 with the increase in oil production a key factor, said Monica Malik, chief economist at Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank.Biden’s meeting with Saudi crown prince pushed back to July
A meeting between President Joe Biden and Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is now expected to happen next month, according to an administration official. CNN reported earlier this week that Biden and the crown prince were planning to meet at the end of June as part of a broader summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council, which Saudi Arabia currently presides over.
Saudi Wealth Fund’s $3 Billion Jordan Unit Aims to Ramp Up Deals
The Saudi Jordanian Investment Fund, controlled by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, is backing the development of a $400 million hospital in Amman as it looks to ramp up spending over the next few years.
The fund, which has committed capital of $3 billion, will be the only equity investor in a new 300-bed hospital in Jordan in a partnership with California’s UCLA Health and University College London’s medical school.
Saudi Arabia plans to spend $1 billion a year discovering treatments to slow aging
The Saudi royal family has started a not-for-profit organization called the Hevolution Foundation that plans to spend up to $1 billion a year of its oil wealth supporting basic research on the biology of aging and finding ways to extend the number of years people live in good health, a concept known as “health span.”
2 Saudi delegations to visit US to improve economic ties
This comes “at a time when Riyadh and Washington are intensifying their efforts to repair their tense relations with the aim of paving the way for US President Joe Biden’s visit,” according to Reuters.
The first delegation is expected to visit Washington on June 15, headed by Saudi Commerce Minister Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi, while the second delegation, headed by Investment Minister Khaled Al-Falih, intends to visit the United States by the end of the month.
Saudi Arabia condemns Indian officials’ comments insulting Prophet Mohammed
Saudi Arabia condemns and denounces statements by the spokeswoman of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which constituted an insult to the Prophet Mohammed, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Sunday.
