ABSTRACT The consolidation of power under the leadership of Muhammad bin Salman (MBS) is seen as a watershed moment in the contemporary political landscape of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). His swift ascent to power has been characterized by the opportunities created by King Salman that have been efficiently exploited by MBS. This research enquires how the consolidation of power of MBS is taking place in the KSA. It engages with existing scholarship to position the KSA case study within broader debates on authoritarian consolidation. It provides valuable insights into MBS's strategies for consolidating his power, using a qualitative research methodology that includes surveys and interviews with practitioners, academics, and experts in Saudi Arabian politics. The research is theoretically grounded in Personalist Authoritarianism , applying its assumptions like elite threat management, rival neutralization, and hold over coercive and legal institutions. Moreover, this study has found that, along with the above three key indicators of consolidation of power suggested by the theory, two more indicators, including support from the clerics and support from like‐minded young princes, are significantly relevant in the consolidation of power by MBS. Therefore, this study proposes enhancements to the existing theoretical framework by adding these elements, thereby aiming to facilitate future research on the consolidation of power. The findings show that MBS has successfully consolidated his power while securing short‐ to medium‐term stability, making him the undisputed leader in Saudi Arabia's current political scene.
Aftab et al. (Wed,) studied this question.