The best indication of significant change may even be the creation of a Qatari intellectual tradition. Even though the Qataris are fabulously rich, the dizziness of modernity is not without its price. Qataris are not expected to pay the debts of change in the near future and the trend of comfortable neo-traditionalism will continue to grow. Yet it will inevitably reach its peak, whether caused by a revolution in oil demand (p: 16). The importance of change, especially the dramatic changes of recent decades, will by no means be ignored. Qatar has rapidly evolved from a small, highly traditional tribal society, one that has languished since the collapse of pearl prices in 1930, to a modern and vibrant society in Qatar, which has only been the case in the past.