Social modernisation, but no retreat on power, opponents say

King Abdullah’s first four years on the throne have been marked by substantial change in education, media and social policy. New structures have made it harder for conservatives to block curriculum reforms, and the first steps towards improving the position of women have been taken with Saudi Arabia’s participation in the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (Cedaw) review process (GSN 823/5, 822/8).