Well, about 10 years ago the young clerics who are also better educated announced with the King's approval that much of what passed for Islam was in fact just old tribal customs. You know that KSA stagnated horribly during the Ottoman Empire and literacy was practically nil..
Its changing. There is nothing inherently malevolent about Wahhabi beliefs.. They are conservative and the reason for it was to get rid of the innovations introduced by the Ottomans and get the Turks off the Arabian peninsula. The objective was to simplify Islam.
I think reforms will continue.. They have a HUGE number of graduate studies scholarships in everything from Law to Economics to Medicine and Engineering.. I think the number was 250,000.. to do graduate level studies abroad. Plus, about ten years ago they started a campaign to quit rote education and encourage critical thinking.
Plus, they have a young population.. The demographic of Saudis under 50 is just huge and they are ready for a softer version.
KSA took a giant step backwards in 1979 when the Grand Mosque was under siege and Iran went radical with the overthrow of the Shah.. Its scared the bejesus out of the Saudis.
The SAG is committed to the people and their welfare now and in the future.. I am pretty confident they will continue on the path they have been on since 1950.. and I think change with be somewhat faster.
