Analysis of "An annus horribilis"

          “An Annus Horribilis”, a chapter in Robert Lacey’s book Monarch: The Life and Reign of Elizabeth II, describes one of the hardest years for the Queen of Britain- 1992. During this year, the Queen encountered two major hardships. One was the fire in Windsor Castle, which caused much damage to significant apartments and many other rooms in the castle, and the other being the separation of Charles and Diana. However, the manner in which the Queen conducted herself through these hard times truly brings out her character and concern for her country overall.

            When Windsor Castle caught on fire the Queen was devastated by the damage. However, when it was announced that “the government would pick up the repair bill, estimated at between £20 million and £40 million….The immediate response was of outrage” (327). The people did not appreciate how they would ultimately be paying through taxes, even if they were great supporters of the Queen. Elizabeth II understood why people held resentment and a few days later she came to support one of the major changes going into place that would affect the royal family. Starting the following year, “the queen and Prince of Wales would pay tax on their private income” (328-329). The Queen herself greatly supported this change since she realized that in order for Crown to remain legitimate, changes such as these would have to go into place.

            With this major event already taking a toll on Elizabeth II, the separation of Charles and Diana became an additional blow. The royal family was seen as the ideal happy family and this event seemed to break all of that. During this time, Charles wished that Diana would no longer remain part of the royal family but the Queen stood by Diana and defended her. “…the Queen wasn’t having it. She insisted that Diana should have her dignity and rights” (333). Elizabeth II took into account the new world she was living in, where a woman should not be bound down by a failed marriage and completely ostracized. Diana remained the Princess of Wales, yet she continued to live her own independent life as well, which was encouraged by the Queen.

            1992 certainly was not a pleasant year for Elizabeth II, having to face the tragedies concerning her family and home. Given the circumstances though, she took the opportunity to prove to the world the British monarchy will keep on modernizing to fit into the world today.

                                                                                                                                                           

Annotated Bibliography 8

             Bradley, John R. "Saudi Arabia's Invisible Hand in the Arab Spring." Foreign
     Affairs. Council on Foreign Relations, 13 Oct. 2011. Web. 22 Feb. 2012.
     <http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/136473/john-r-bradley/
     saudi-arabias-invisible-hand-in-the-arab-spring>.

Bradley’s article explains how the country of Saudi Arabia plays a big role in the many uprisings that have occurred in the Middle East. The Saudis use tanks and their own military to put down the protests and chaos that occurs on the streets of countries such as Bahrain and Tunisia. Organizations such as the Muslim Brotherhood have sided with Saudi Arabia, since it is against the government of Syria. The author stresses in the end that if the countries of the Middle East desire democracy, then they should be evaluating the influence of Saudi Arabia. The source does have some bias against Saudi Arabia and how it manipulating the countries in the Middle East. However, it does do a good job of how Saudi Arabia has had a massive influence over the Arab Spring. The article is one a different topic than what I’ve read so far, but it has given me a new view of the big influence Saudi Arabia has over other countries in the Middle East.

Annotated Bibliography 7

        Jones, Toby Craig. "Saudi Arabia Versus the Arab Spring." Raritan 31.2 (2011): 43,59,164. ProQuest Research Library. Web.

In this article, Jones describes the position Saudi Arabia has taken against the Arab Spring. According to Jones, Saudi Arabia is desperate to crush the rebellions and protest that are taking place in the other countries of the Middle East. Saudi Arabia wants to preserve the system that is already in place in all of these countries, since uprisings in neighboring countries is a threat to its own system of government. This article describes Saudi Arabia’s methods “perilous” and definitely puts its government in a negative light. Although the primary focus of this source is the efforts of the Arab Spring, it also sheds light on how power hungry Saudi Arabia really is and helps in my assessment of the royal family. The article helped me learn more about Saudi Arabia and how it interacts with other countries to make itself always come out first.

Annotated Bibliography 6

         Roberts, Andrew. "How the Queen Saved and Soothed Britain." Wall Street Journal: A.13. National Newspapers Core. Feb 09 2012.

Andrew Roberts explains how Queen Elizabeth II has actually made a difference with her reign even though many of her critics claim she does not have a vital role in the country. He says that the Queen’s personification of stability throughout Britain’s tumultuous history has prevented “social and political unrest”. The manner in which the Queen has presented her views on situations occurring in her country as well as others has helped appease the emotions of the common people. The article is definitely biased in favor of the British monarchy, but it gives a viewpoint of how the Queen is directly affecting world situations. This is an effective source because it has a strong point of view rather than laying out the queen’s life in general.

Annotated Bibliography 5

        Lacey, Robert. “Great White Queen.” Monarch: the life and reign of Elizabeth II. New York: Free Press, 2002. Print.

           In this chapter of Monarch Robert Lacey gives examples of how Queen Elizabeth II has become the queen of the people. Papa New Guinea is a country that in fact approached the British Empire itself and asked Elizabeth II to be their Queen. Because of the influence she has as head of the Commonwealth, Elizabeth II has aided Margaret Thatcher, a previous prime minister, in affairs with foreign countries when she has not been comfortable. Although many times Elizabeth works “on the sidelines”, her diplomatic and social skills have helped many times to get the job done. This source is helpful because it gives specific examples of how Elizabeth II is truly loved by many people, even those in other countries.

Annotated Bibliography 4

        Lacey, Robert. “September Again.” Monarch: the life and reign of Elizabeth II. New York: Free Press, 2002. Print.

         Lacey explains in this chapter that although Queen Elizabeth II may not have that much political power, she is still gaining respect and love by many people. Even though she and her family are seen as the biggest celebrities, Elizabeth II holds true to the idea of setting a positive example for the world. She stays connected with the people through in many ways including “Investitures”, ceremonies in which she personally awards citizens for their heroic actions. She also is a very busy lady politically, meeting with government officials and going over official documents on a day to day basis. This chapter is a useful source since it expresses how devoted Elizabeth II is to her people and her country.

Analysis of "The Liberal Impulse in Saudi Arabia"

In his article, “The Liberal Impulse in Saudi Arabia”, Richard Dekmejian outlines the origins and the journey of the movement called Saudi Liberalism. Also known as the Liberal Trend, this movement brings together people who desire for reform in the monarchial system of Saudi Arabia, such as modernization, human rights, and the people’s ability to participate in the political system to name a few. Although various groups of people held demonstrations in favor of a more liberalized Saudi Arabia, the government sought out to quiet down the movement and to slowly fade it away during the early 90s. However, Dekmejian argues that after the attacks of September 11 in 2001, Saudi Arabia came under a lot scrutiny from the world, and at this time the liberals took advantage of the situation.

Saudi Arabia had overlooked many of the conflicts in its country before 9/11, but was forced to look them in the eye after the events. Crown Prince Abdullah was under a lot of pressure in the public and sought to consider a more reformist idea in his government. Dekmijian describes that Abdullah desired to demonstrate “to a critical world his commitment to greater openness in Saudi society” (404). While Abdullah and the rest of the royal family were struggling to restore their image, the Liberals organized their movement and came up with a specific vision. The Liberals sought after a change in the government that included more justice and decided to base it of off what is said in the Quran. The author explains, “The Vision statement sets a general standard to measure the quality of governance derived from a fundamental principle of Islam” (405). With ideas such as the “shura”, a representative council in which members are elected by the people, Dekmijian stresses that the Liberals outlined a systematic change in the monarchial government that would include more democracy.

In addition, Dekmijian claims that the Liberal movement in here to stay and already the royal family has been taking action to reform in the changing times. The liberal movement doesn’t seek out to completely overthrow the royal family and replace it with an entirely different system of government. They simply want the people’s voice to be heard in the decisions it makes as well as to become more modernized and respect the rights of the citizens. An example of the royal family’s efforts to reform include when “on April 5, 2003, the Prince announced his decision to form two separate human rights organizations, one consisting of government officials and the other comprising citizens outside the regime” (410). The royal family knows that the liberal movement is not going anywhere and therefore is willing to makes changes in order to remain legitimate.

Although the Liberal movement still has much to accomplish, Dekmijian’s statements hold truth that it will remain relevant in the times to come. They organized themselves at a time when they knew the government was vulnerable and now are continuously making the effort to create modifications in their country.

Analysis for "Religion and National Identity in Saudi Arabia"

     In the article “Religion and National Identity in Saudi Arabia”, Joseph Nevo analyzes the Saudi royal family’s use of religion to legitimize their existence in the country they have ruled over for so long. He argues that the royal family has used the religion of Islam to create a national identity for Saudis: to practice Islam and be loyal to the House of Saud. The government has established that practicing Islam is the defining factor of all Saudis. Nevo specifically makes the strong argument that the royal family has used Islam for its benefit, since Wahabism, the dominant sect of Islam practiced in Saudi Arabia, emphasizes the idea that religion and state are linked.

            The Saudi government utilizes Islamic principles to its core to demonstrate to the people that their faith is the dominant factor of their country. As Nevo points out “The Saudi constitution is the Quran, and the shari’a is the source of its laws” (2). By avoiding the Western idea of separation of church and state, the Saudi royal family goes the roots of Islam to make sure that every citizen experiences it in their everyday life. Every rule and the way they conduct themselves goes back to their religion. In addition, Saudi public schools place a great emphasis on studying Islam. The author describes, “About a third of the elementary schools’ curriculum is religious studies, and together with Arabic they make up more than half the curriculum” (2). The Saudi government instills the identity of being Muslim in children from the moment they start to learn and comprehend. Although they make sure Islam is at the foundation of all the people, the government goes one step further to make them understand the necessity of being loyal to the ruling dynasty.

            Perhaps Nevo’s most eye-raising claim is that the royal family manipulates and uses the muftis, distinguished scholars of Islam, for legitimizing their own rule. However, when thought about, this idea does not seem surprising after all. The muftis are greatly respected by the Saudi kings and the rest of the family but mostly only if they give fatwas (legal opinions) for their betterment. Nevo states, “The ruling house let them exercise power and responsibility in many domains as long as they interpreted and construed Islamic tradition in a way that would serve the interests of the royal family and glorify its image” (5). Even though what the muftis declare may not be in accordance with the correct teaching of Islam, they still agree to say anything for the royal family since they earn more respect and take pleasure in climbing up the social ladder.

            The unification of Islam and the royal family is something that the government wants the people of Saudi Arabia to embrace as their national identity. The two crossed swords on the Saudi flag symbolize “the bond between the House of Saud and Islam” (9). The idea of the intertwinement of religion and state is the primary thought the government desires for its people to have. Nevo concludes with the thought that anything that could put the Saudi regime in danger is also a threat to Islam. Through his argument, Nevo is able to persuade the reader that through religion a royal dynasty is able to maintain its power.

Analysis of "Scrutinising the British Monarchy"

            In his paper “Scrutinising the British Monarchy: The corporate brand that was shaken, stirred and survived”, John Balmer analyzes the British monarchy through the lens of a corporate heritage brand. By going through the history of the British Crown, he establishes the principals it needs to follow in order to retain value for the people including: continuity, visibility, strategy, sensitivity, respectability, and empathy. Balmer makes the convincing argument that by following these key values, the sovereign is able to remain legitimate, since he or she will be loyal to the people, as is the similar case in any business that serves a community.

            The author greatly stresses that in order for the monarchy to survive, it needs to be active in how it presents itself to the people in terms of following through with change and public service. Balmer goes back in time to the reign of King Edward VII who saw the need to rebuild some aspects of the monarchy. He describes, “Aided by his advisers, the King invigorated the pomp and ceremonial aspects of the British monarchy” (7). It is undeniable that the government has to adjust to its changing times, and Edward VII saw the need for more structure in the symbolism and traditions during his rule. In the same way, Edward VII was very big in the area of philanthropy which led another one of his changes: public service. He found out that in order to show that the crown really does contribute for the betterment of the country, it needs to be aggressive in its acts of benevolence. With the government directly involved, the people of the country are shown that it cares and is ready to stand up for them at any moment.

            Another main theme Balmer has woven into his analysis is the switch in roles between the rulers and the people of a country. Before the people used to serve the king; now the opposite occurs, the kings have to serve the people. This idea also goes back to the government’s necessity to be flexible with change as time goes on. An example Balmer gives of the monarchy considering the people in the televised Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. As a new act, the Coronation was very controversial since “any imperfections in the ceremony or in behavior could be a National embarrassment” (11). However controversial it was, the televised Coronation went through and symbolized how a part of the monarchy had adapted to its present times and let the public be a part of something very important to the country.

            In conclusion, Balmer jumps back to his comparison with a corporate brand. Just as a business thrives on customer satisfaction, the British monarchy can only exist if the people of the country are happy. Monarchies are not a dead government as long as they respect the wishes of the people they serve and are willing to create change as time requires.

Annotated Bibliography 3

1)      Pimlott, Ben. The Queen. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1996. Print.

Pimlott’s biography of Queen Elizabeth II gives an intimate view of the palace life and brings up different scenarios and how she has presented herself. The book covers her birth in 1926 up until 1997 when conflicts with Charles and Diana were coming in the view of the public. Also, the biography explains a lot of the history of Great Britain itself when Elizabeth II was growing up. It highlights the major events of her life, such as her coronation and describes how she has kept her poise in the public eye for so long.

The author remains objective with the course of events as they took place for the queen, yet it is clear that he admires the Queen very much.

The biography is a little overwhelming but it will be a good source since it will help me see how the British monarchy has changed over time through the eyes of the same person as they grow up.

Annotated Bibliography 2

1)      Packard, Jerrold M. The Queen and Her Court. London: Robson , 1981. Print.

Packard’s book goes into detail about the various aspects that contribute to the image and surface points of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. It outlines her family, their residences, the titles they possess, as well as honors they all receive. In addition, Packard talks of the different occasions that are important for the Queen and the expense of the lavish lifestyle she lives.

The book itself is very objective and lays out the surface details about the Queen and her family. It aims to demonstrate an understanding of the British monarchy and what it means for the rest of the world.

As a source, this book helps layout the basic concept of the British monarchy and the different people involved. However, it differs from my other sources since it doesn’t cover the debate that is forming over the monarchy and its existence today.

Annotated Bibliography 1

1)      Lacey, Robert. "Vox Populi, Vox Dei." Inside the Kingdom. New York: Penguin, 2009. 46-53. Print.

This chapter of Robert Lacey’s book explains the reasoning behind the religious restrictions that are practiced in Saudi Arabia. Since the government became afraid of revolutions breaking out to overthrow the monarchy in the late 1970s, it responded by taking religion to the extreme. Restrictions started to go in place such as bans on music and women dressing more conservatively. Previously, the House of Saud announced that it was considering reform in its system, however that idea slowly fizzled away. After the 1980s everything had to follow the extreme guidelines the Saudi government had outlined, which proclaimed to follow that of the will of God.

While Lacey tries to remain objective by adding the viewpoints of various locals, there is a biased tone to the text. There is the bias of the author not agreeing with the decisions of the government, since there aren’t many direct quotes from the people who might have agreed. This chapter outlined some of the restrictions placed on the country and the reasons behind them.

This aids my previous source since it adds to the extensiveness of the restrictions placed on Saudi Arabia. It also gives a little history of the reasons behind them and the way live used to be.

Summary for "International: Adapt or Die; Saudi Arabia"

The article “International: Adapt or Die; Saudi Arabia”, featured in The Economist, argues that an increasing number of Saudis desire reform in their country and are continually becoming unhappy with the policies of the Saudi monarchy. For many years the Saudi royal family has had great power in the world because of the empire of oil they hold, but this is not enough since there is trouble brewing in the country itself. The Economist makes the point known that Crown Prince Abdullah, who is currently in charge because King Fahd has become increasingly ill over the past few years, has realized that his country is in plight and is ready to take necessary reform actions in order to save it as well as his family. The article points out that the events of September 11, 2001 and the invasion of Iraq by America have caused unrest in Saudi Arabia; however, bombings have occurred in the country itself my extremists who desire to have a religious republic rather than having a specific royal family in power for many years. As the author says the Saudis want a “quiet life”, yet there is a lot of resentment from the people themselves because of many of the restrictions and policies that are placed upon them. Censorship is heavily practiced by the authorities. For example, newspapers, music in public, and cinemas are a few are of the restricted aspects of society. Women still don’t have many of the same rights as men, since “the religious authorities deem the rightful place for females is home.” The people of the country, especially those that are educated, are becoming unhappy with the fact that Saudi Arabia is kept from enjoying the rights and aspects associated with the modern world, as well as not having say in the government happenings. Because of this unrest, Prince Abdullah is opening up national debates to bring issues, such as giving more power to women, out into the discussion. The article emphasized that he has to try to listen to the views of the people in order to save the royal family and keep the monarchy in place, since opening up and changing issues may seem more important. The author concludes by saying moderate Islamists and secular reformers are ready to work for “greater representation for themselves and greater accountability from the royal rulers.” Whatever the manner of getting there, in order for the Saudi monarchy to survive it has to change and restructure its traditional ways.

Source:

"International: Adapt Or Die; Saudi Arabia;" The Economist Mar 06 2004: 60-44. ProQuest Research Library. Web. 10 Jan. 2012 .