Leiden University Student Repository

Tasseel, Nicolas (2021)

The change in foreign policy of Saudi Arabia under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman through his quest of legitimacy: The cases of Iran, Yemen and Qatar

Master thesis | Middle Eastern Studies (MA)

The reforms of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman are already well established in the historiography, both domestically and externally. Nevertheless, the association of his reforms with Mohammed bin Salman's need to demonstrate his ability to rule and his legitimacy to become King of Saudi Arabia in the future has received little attention. The thesis focuses primarily on Mohammed bin Salman's controversial rise to power within the Saudi family and his increased anti-Iranian foreign policy since his appointment as Defense Minister in 2015. The innovative character of the thesis is in the more precise analysis of this anti-Iranian policy by taking three case studies, respectively, the policy exercised by Mohammed bin Salman towards Iran but also Yemen and Qatar. The main argument is that he undertakes this more hostile foreign policy because he needs to show his ability to rule, his power in the region and especially his legitimacy to become future King of the Kingdom.

Mohammed bin Salman

Iran

Yemeni civil war

foreign policy

Qatar

legitimacy

Author

Tasseel, Nicolas

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Supervisors

Dr. C.J.V. Henderson

ECTS Credits

20

Language

en