Publication

In March 2014, Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah ibn Abdilazīz appointed his half-brother Muqrin as Deputy Crown Prince. This brief discusses the implications of this move for the kingdom. The author argues that by ensuring Murqin's position as king, Abdullah ibn Abdilazīz's is also placing his own son in stronger position to succeed Murqin. The biggest losers in this game of thrones, he goes on to say, are the Sudayris, another important family clan in Saudi Arabia with an aristocratic tribal background.