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SECTARIAN WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST: IRAN, SAUDI ARABIA, PAKISTAN AND AN UNENDING WAR FOR REGIONAL HEGEMONY
Corresponding Author(s) : Wang Xingang
Humanities & Social Sciences Reviews,
Vol. 9 No. 3 (2021): May
Abstract
Purpose: This paper aims to explore the current chaotic condition of the Middle East that was fueled by the traditional competition between Saudi Arabia and Iran. s state and society in every field of life.
Principal Findings: The paper argues that the Saudi-Iran’s sectarian proxy warfare in the Middle East is a means to counter each other’s regional influence that has adverse implications for the internal security of Pakistan that can destroy its economy as well.
Methodology: This research is based on a qualitative approach and deductive method. The paper answers four main queries: To what extent the Iran–Saudi Rivalry a result of sectarian aspirations? How are both countries using proxy warfare methods in the region to realize their interests vis a vis each other? What is the role of external powers like the United States or Russia in proxy warfare? How does the competition between Iran and Saudi Arabia impact Pakistan?
Applications: The study concludes that the outcome of the predicament in the Middle East has produced policy challenges for Pakistan vis-Ã - vis its relations with Saudi Arabia and Iran. The growing threats of sectarianism, violent extremism, domestic Polarization, and danger to the economic development of Pakistan make it an important player in this competition.
Novelty: The traditional Conflict between Saudi and Iran affects the entire region of the Middle East. Sectarianism is one of the serious concerns of all Muslim countries today. It truly has both internal and external sources in other neighbouring Muslim states. Thus, this research provides an understanding to comprehend Pakistan’s internal and as well as external problems.
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- Aftandilian, G. (2018). Maneuvering the Saudi-Iranian Rivalry in the Middle East: How the United States Can Preserve and Protect Its Long-Term Interests in the Region. Independently published December 7, 2018.
- Afzal, M. (2019). Saudi Arabia’s hold on Pakistan https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/FP_20190510_saudi_pakistan_afzal.pdf
- Ahmed, Z. S., & Akbarzadeh, S. (2018). Understanding Pakistan’s Relationship with Iran. Middle East Policy, 25(4), 86-100. https://doi.org/10.1111/mepo.12380 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/mepo.12380
- Barzegar, K., & Divsallar, A. (2017). Political rationality in Iranian foreign policy. The Washington Quarterly, 40(1), 39-53. https://doi.org/10.1080/0163660X.2017.1302738 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/0163660X.2017.1302738
- Beauchamp, Z. (2015). Iran and Saudi Arabia’s cold war is making the Middle East even more dangerous. Vox,(March 30, 2015), retrieved from https://www.vox.com/2015/3/30/8314513/saudi-arabia-iran
- Cerioli, L. G. (2018). Roles and International Behaviour: Saudi–Iranian Rivalry in Bahrain’s and Yemen’s Arab Spring. Contexto Internacional, 40(2), 295-316. https://doi.org/10.1590/s0102-8529.2018400200010 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/s0102-8529.2018400200010
- Ehteshami, A. (2014). Middle East Middle powers: Regional role, international impact. Uluslararası İlişkiler Dergisi, 11(42), 29-49. https://doi.org/10.33458/uidergisi.553296 DOI: https://doi.org/10.33458/uidergisi.553296
- Fisher, M. (2016). How the Iranian-Saudi proxy struggle tore apart the Middle East. The New York Times, 19.
- Grumet, T. R. (2015). New Middle East Cold War: Saudi Arabia and Iran's Rivalry.
- Jones, S. G. (2019). War by Proxy: Iran's Growing Footprint in the Middle East. Center for Strategic & International Studies.
- Karakir, Ä°. A. (2018). Ongoing conflict in Yemen: A proxy war? TESAM Akademi, 5(2), 121-149. https://doi.org/10.30626/tesamakademi.456008 DOI: https://doi.org/10.30626/tesamakademi.456008
- Khan, Z. (2016). Sectarian Rise in Pakistan: Role of Saudi Arabia and Iran. Researcher in Government and Public Policy, National Defence University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
- Mumtaz, K. (2015). The Middle East in Flux. Strategic Studies, 35(2), 136-156.
- Muzaffar, M., Khan, R., & Yaseen, Z. (2017). Saudi–Iran Strife: Complexities for Pakistan. Global Regional Review, 2(1), 119-134. https://doi.org/10.31703/grr.2017(II-I).09 DOI: https://doi.org/10.31703/grr.2017(II-I).09
- Panda, A. (2019). Pakistan's Approach to Navigating the Saudi-Iranian Split. JSTOR.
- Rizwan, M., Arshid, M., Waqar, M., & Iram, S. (2014). From rivalry to nowhere: A story of Iran-Saudi ties. Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 19(9). https://doi.org/10.9790/0837-199491101 DOI: https://doi.org/10.9790/0837-199491101
- Şafak, O., & ÇELİK, K. E. (2018). Conflict in Syria: Is It a Proxy Warfare? Uluslararası Kriz ve Siyaset Araştırmaları Dergisi, 2(2), 44-69.
- Shafi, H. A. (2017). Iran-Saudi rivalry: Options for Pakistan. Spearhead.
- Sharp, J. M., & Brudnick, I. A. (2015). Yemen: civil war and regional intervention. In: Congressional Research Service Washington DC.
- Shujahi, F. K., & Shafiq, M. (2018). Evaluating iran-saudi strategic competition in middle east: implications for regional security. NDU Journal, 13(3). https://ndu.edu.pk/issra/issra_pub/articles/ndu-journal/NDU-Journal-2018/13-Eval-Iran-Saudi-Strat.pdf
- Sleiman-Haidar, R., & McGinn, J. (2018). Saudi Arabia and Iran: beyond conflict and coexistence?
- Weddington, D. (2017). Rivalry in the Middle East: The History of Saudi-Iranian Relations and its Implications on American Foreign Policy.
- Yusuf, H. (2017). Pakistan in the Middle East: A Cautious Balance. The Diplomat.
- Zulfqar, S. (2018). Competing interests of major powers in the Middle East: The case study of Syria and its implications for regional stability. PERCEPTIONS: Journal of International Affairs, 23(1), 121-147.
References
Aftandilian, G. (2018). Maneuvering the Saudi-Iranian Rivalry in the Middle East: How the United States Can Preserve and Protect Its Long-Term Interests in the Region. Independently published December 7, 2018.
Afzal, M. (2019). Saudi Arabia’s hold on Pakistan https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/FP_20190510_saudi_pakistan_afzal.pdf
Ahmed, Z. S., & Akbarzadeh, S. (2018). Understanding Pakistan’s Relationship with Iran. Middle East Policy, 25(4), 86-100. https://doi.org/10.1111/mepo.12380 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/mepo.12380
Barzegar, K., & Divsallar, A. (2017). Political rationality in Iranian foreign policy. The Washington Quarterly, 40(1), 39-53. https://doi.org/10.1080/0163660X.2017.1302738 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/0163660X.2017.1302738
Beauchamp, Z. (2015). Iran and Saudi Arabia’s cold war is making the Middle East even more dangerous. Vox,(March 30, 2015), retrieved from https://www.vox.com/2015/3/30/8314513/saudi-arabia-iran
Cerioli, L. G. (2018). Roles and International Behaviour: Saudi–Iranian Rivalry in Bahrain’s and Yemen’s Arab Spring. Contexto Internacional, 40(2), 295-316. https://doi.org/10.1590/s0102-8529.2018400200010 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/s0102-8529.2018400200010
Ehteshami, A. (2014). Middle East Middle powers: Regional role, international impact. Uluslararası İlişkiler Dergisi, 11(42), 29-49. https://doi.org/10.33458/uidergisi.553296 DOI: https://doi.org/10.33458/uidergisi.553296
Fisher, M. (2016). How the Iranian-Saudi proxy struggle tore apart the Middle East. The New York Times, 19.
Grumet, T. R. (2015). New Middle East Cold War: Saudi Arabia and Iran's Rivalry.
Jones, S. G. (2019). War by Proxy: Iran's Growing Footprint in the Middle East. Center for Strategic & International Studies.
Karakir, Ä°. A. (2018). Ongoing conflict in Yemen: A proxy war? TESAM Akademi, 5(2), 121-149. https://doi.org/10.30626/tesamakademi.456008 DOI: https://doi.org/10.30626/tesamakademi.456008
Khan, Z. (2016). Sectarian Rise in Pakistan: Role of Saudi Arabia and Iran. Researcher in Government and Public Policy, National Defence University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Mumtaz, K. (2015). The Middle East in Flux. Strategic Studies, 35(2), 136-156.
Muzaffar, M., Khan, R., & Yaseen, Z. (2017). Saudi–Iran Strife: Complexities for Pakistan. Global Regional Review, 2(1), 119-134. https://doi.org/10.31703/grr.2017(II-I).09 DOI: https://doi.org/10.31703/grr.2017(II-I).09
Panda, A. (2019). Pakistan's Approach to Navigating the Saudi-Iranian Split. JSTOR.
Rizwan, M., Arshid, M., Waqar, M., & Iram, S. (2014). From rivalry to nowhere: A story of Iran-Saudi ties. Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 19(9). https://doi.org/10.9790/0837-199491101 DOI: https://doi.org/10.9790/0837-199491101
Şafak, O., & ÇELİK, K. E. (2018). Conflict in Syria: Is It a Proxy Warfare? Uluslararası Kriz ve Siyaset Araştırmaları Dergisi, 2(2), 44-69.
Shafi, H. A. (2017). Iran-Saudi rivalry: Options for Pakistan. Spearhead.
Sharp, J. M., & Brudnick, I. A. (2015). Yemen: civil war and regional intervention. In: Congressional Research Service Washington DC.
Shujahi, F. K., & Shafiq, M. (2018). Evaluating iran-saudi strategic competition in middle east: implications for regional security. NDU Journal, 13(3). https://ndu.edu.pk/issra/issra_pub/articles/ndu-journal/NDU-Journal-2018/13-Eval-Iran-Saudi-Strat.pdf
Sleiman-Haidar, R., & McGinn, J. (2018). Saudi Arabia and Iran: beyond conflict and coexistence?
Weddington, D. (2017). Rivalry in the Middle East: The History of Saudi-Iranian Relations and its Implications on American Foreign Policy.
Yusuf, H. (2017). Pakistan in the Middle East: A Cautious Balance. The Diplomat.
Zulfqar, S. (2018). Competing interests of major powers in the Middle East: The case study of Syria and its implications for regional stability. PERCEPTIONS: Journal of International Affairs, 23(1), 121-147.