By James M. Dorsey
Once viewed as a breeder of religious extremism, Saudi Arabia earned brownie points as the international community sighed a sigh of relief when Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s de facto ruler, substantially reduced global funding of ultra-conservative strands of Islam and started to propagate a socially more relaxed interpretation of the faith.
Almost a decade later, the benefits of the change far outweigh the costs.
Even so, the shift’s geopolitical complexity has become apparent, particularly in flashpoints such as Syria and Yemen.
Please read further, listen to the podcast, or watch the video at https://jamesmdorsey.substack.com/p/saudi-arabia-balances-tolerance-with