Embedding Saudi Capitalism at the Workplace

This chapter critiques political economy approaches for their focus on state-capital relations and the neglect of capital-labour relations in Southern capitalisms. It argues that they are insufficient to understand southern capitalisms and a focus on work and the workplace is crucial for a fuller understanding of their specific capitalist dynamics. Using the example of Saudi Arabia, it critiques the characterisation of Saudi capitalism as ‘patrimonial capitalism’ for its predominant focus on state–capital relations and institutional complementarities and coherence. Through two detailed workplace studies in Saudi Arabia and using a labour process lens, the chapter examines the dynamics of the Saudi workplace which remain insufficiently explored and aims to demonstrate the significance of capital–labour relations in analysing Saudi capitalism.