But the bland public face of Saudi Arabia has concealed the contradictions between a semi-feudal political system, ruled by close-knit dynastic groupings, and rapidly changing social and economic structures.

• 沙特阿拉伯表面上的温和掩盖了它的半封建政体(由紧抱一团的王族小集团统治)与迅速变化中的社会和经济结构之间的矛盾。