Saudi Arabia and Iran: Rivalry and Fragmentation after the Arab Uprisings

About

Simon Mabon (Lecturer, Lancaster University), will explore the rivalry between two major Gulf powers, Saudi Arabia and Iran, after the Arab Uprisings. With the fragmentation of a number of states across the region in 2011 and political dynamics challenged in a range of different ways, Riyadh and Tehran found opportunities to improve their standing across the Middle East, often in zero sum ways. 

Historical rivals, the 1979 revolution added a religious dimension, which became vitriolic given the existential importance of Islam to Riyadh and Tehran. The religious construction of the region provides opportunity for external involvement in the domestic affairs of regional actors and with the increasing tensions between regime and society after the uprisings. Within this, political life became increasingly contested, as many struggled to meet their basic needs within the context of deteriorating and increasingly complex political and security situations. Such conditions provided scope for Riyadh and Tehran to increase their standing across the region by providing support for groups within contested spaces. To this end, the talk focuses upon Syria and Bahrain to understand and engage with how the fragmentation of political life – and sovereignty broadly – has provided scope for the rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran to intensify and with it, further escalate tensions across the region. Moderated by Iran Project Director Payam Mohseni.