Sociology of Islam published Dr. Foley’s article on Saudi-Chinese ties in the twenty-first century: “Seek Knowledge Even if it Takes You To China (Via Washington): Saudi Arabia and China in the Twenty-First Century.”
Drawing on multiple trips to China between 2011 and 2015 and ten months living in Saudi Arabia, this article argues that there are factors other than economics that define China’s relationship with Saudi Arabia: namely, historical ties dating back to the seventh century, Saudi cultural and geo-strategic linkages to the United States, and the new economic and political geography of Asia. While these cultural and strategic factors have limited the growth of Saudi-Sino ties since the start of the Arab Spring, they are likely the factors that will allow the two sides to realize the potential of their bilateral relationship in future years.