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Saudi Arabia Faces New Challenge From Its Restive Youth

A new book by a veteran American journalist Caryle Murphy predicts that Saudi Arabia faces an “increasingly bumpy” two decades as its youth — who make up more than 60% of the population — demand jobs, economic justice and greater individual freedom.
Protesters chant slogans and hold posters during a protest in Qatif March 9, 2011. Saudi Shi'ites staged another small protest in the kingdom's eastern province on Wednesday, defying a ban on demonstrations. More than 100 mostly young men gathered in the main Shi'ite city of Qatif on the Gulf coast to demand the release of prisoners they say are held without trial, witnesses said. Banner "Swear, will never forget you". REUTERS/Stringer (SAUDI ARABIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST)

On Twitter, the social media site now used by about 400,000 Saudis, anonymous government tweeters are derided as “egg people” because they don’t post their pictures and are thus depicted only by white ovals.

This detail is among many fascinating nuggets in a new book — A Kingdom’s Future: Saudi Arabia Through the Eyes of its Twentysomethings — in which veteran journalist Caryle Murphy presents a nuanced portrait of Saudi youth and explains the challenge they pose to the government and society of a pivotal economic and regional power.

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