now russell lucas is a professor for international relations at michigan state university in the united states. he spoke to us earlier about why he thinks that he arrived yet wants to host the woke up. i, i think the goal is prestige that saudi arabia is trying to reinforce its place on the world stage through the big sporting events such as i'm now hosting the world cup, you know, looking at aside from cuts are all the recent quotes of the world cup in russia, brazil, south africa have been, you know, major regional powers and, you know, the next world comes to being hosted in the united states and canada and mexico. so as saudi arabia is trying to improve the stature in the world, and also along the way i developed some economic diversification away from patrol russell lucas, speaking to me on the wrong that before we got to the absence of humans can often be very good for other spaces, like price seals, for example, a thriving on the english coastline as they can see, a form, a cold will weapons testing facility has been sealed off to allow the company to grow. so i just got home to

i'm joined now by russell lucas, professor of international relations and global studies from michigan state university . russell. glad to have you along a saudi arabia has been investing heavily in sports, embracing these critics or accusing them of sports, washing it to him. we hear a lot of to cover up human rights abuses. now they get the highest, one of the biggest sporting events in the world. what do you think the goal is as well, thank you for having me. i. i think the goal is um prestige, that saudi arabia is trying to reinforce its place on the world stage through a big sporting events such as i'm now hosting the world cup, you know, look at, aside from cuts are all the reason close to the world cup you know, russia, brazil, south africa have been, you know, major regional powers and, you know, the next world cups are being hosted in the united states and canada and mexico. so is saudi arabia is trying to improve and stature in the world. and also along the way i developed some economic diversification away from petroleum russell, as a football fan, my take away from cut out