Saudi Arabia and Iran: The struggle to shape the Middle East

Since 1979, the rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran - the two major powers in the Muslim world - has played a prominent role in shaping Middle Eastern politics. The rivalry, political in nature yet couched in Islamic rhetoric, reflects a desire to ensure regime security and legitimacy, whilst also increasing influence across the Middle East. Since the 2003 Iraq War, the rivalry has become increasingly vitriolic, resulting in the emergence of proxy conflicts in Iraq, Syria, Bahrain and Yemen to go alongside competition to shape the Lebanese political sphere. This book argues that to understand regional politics, comprehension of the rivalry between Riyadh and Tehran is essential