Before Technopolitics: Approaching the Liminal Character of Ibn Sa'ud's Reign

Despite his often being maligned as a symbol of traditionalism, King ‘Abd al-‘Aziz Al Sa‘ud, remains an under-researched figure in Middle Eastern political history. This paper argues that, contrary to such perceptions, he was instrumental in setting the foundations of Saudi modernity. Indeed, his reign can be identified as a liminal phase, bridging the gap between the patriarchal state of his forefathers and the technopolitical structures consolidated by his successors. This study also highlights how these transformations predated the arrival of hydrocarbon-generated income and were directly linked to the consolidation of the king’s bi-epochal political project.