Blood and Oil: Bradley Hope and Justin Scheck

The Middle East’s Boisterous Machiavellian

Blood and Oil delves into the complex history of the al-Saud family and their rise to global power. The al-Saud family gained world-wide prominence by uniting the Arab peninsula tribes, whether by diplomacy or force, and naming the Kingdom after themselves, Saudi Arabia. The family and nation amassed vast wealth through their partnership with the United States by their establishment of Aramco, the world’s largest oil conglomerate. These actions bolstered their financial status and elevated their global political influence, placing them among the world’s elite families. Holding the keys to the throne grants the ruler power to unlock fates and forge destinies, not within the kingdom’s border, but the globe. This type of power, reserved for the family, ignites a fierce lust within its steel corridors, driving ambitions and treachery to extreme limits. Members of the family embark on a ‘Game of Thrones’-style struggle, vying to claim their own Iron Throne. Betrayal and backstabbing is common within the family, it’s obligated if one wants to ascend to the throne. Currently, there is one person whose eyes are pierced on the throne with ferocious fervor ready to lay siege to the world unopposed, the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman(MBS).

Prior to becoming King, MBS’s father, Salman bin Abdulaziz, served as the governor of Riyadh, where he has a notable history of stern political action and maneuvering. From a young age, MBS did not aspire to become King. In fact, he was content to live like his royal cousins—amassing wealth, playing video games, and enjoying a life of privilege. It wasn’t until he embarrassed his father during a meeting by acting like a spoiled child that MBS, then 15 years old, was sent to his room by his father. While there, playing video games, his father’s attorney entered and gave him a stern scolding. The attorney outlined the immense opportunities before him and emphasized the considerable influence his father wielded within the family. This moment marked a turning point for Mohammed. He began to see his potential for consolidating power, not just within the family but globally. Motivated by the attorney’s words, he became a silent observer in his father’s meetings, learning how to maneuver and wield power with precision. This meticulous apprenticeship ultimately set him on a calculated path toward becoming the crown prince, strategically and swiftly ascending to the pinnacle of power.

MBS is portrayed as a quintessentially Machiavellian figure, characterized by his strategic, sometimes ruthless maneuvers to consolidate power and transform Saudi Arabia. This portrayal aligns closely with Machiavellian principles—primarily the belief that the end justifies the means, and that it is better to be feared than loved, if one cannot be both.

• Rapid Ascendancy: MBS’s rapid rise to power is marked by shrewd political maneuvering. He displaced more senior relatives to become Crown Prince, a move that required careful planning and the cultivation of key alliances within the royal family and beyond.
• Consolidation of Power: Upon becoming Crown Prince, MBS moved swiftly to consolidate power. This is most vividly illustrated by the 2017 Ritz-Carlton incident, where he detained hundreds of influential Saudis—including princes, businessmen, and former ministers—under the guise of an anti-corruption purge. This act not only allowed him to remove potential threats to his authority but also to seize control over significant economic assets.
• Visionary Yet Authoritarian Reforms: MBS’s vision for modernizing Saudi Arabia, encapsulated in his Vision 2030 plan, demonstrates his willingness to break with tradition to achieve economic and social reform. However, his methods often reflect a top-down authoritarian approach, disregarding dissent and enforcing compliance, as seen in the crackdown on activists, including women’s rights advocates, even as he lifted the driving ban on women.
• Foreign Policy Ventures: His foreign policy moves, such as the intervention in Yemen and the blockade of Qatar, reflect a bold and assertive approach that disregards conventional diplomacy in favor of aggressive tactics that aim to reshape regional dynamics according to Saudi interests.