To What Extend Has Sectarianism Increased During the Yemeni Civil War?

Internecine conflicts have been going on in the Republic of Yemen almost from the moment that the republic was established in 1990. However, what distinguishes the most recent bouts of fighting from past clashes is the way religion has been brought into the fray. Antigovernment Houthis have stated that they are defending their unique Zaydi version of Islam against Wahhabi/Salafi subversion. Those leading the pro-government faction increasingly portray the conflict as part of the larger struggle against Iranian/Shia infringement of Sunni areas. Constructivist theories of international relations can go some way in helping to understand these recent developments. The definition of an “identity” – whether in terms of religion, ethnicity or culture – serves as a rallying point for a collective body that perceives itself as being under some kind of threat. Hence, as the Saudi military coalition encroached into Houthi-controlled areas in the west and north of Yemen, the Houthis promoted...Show moreInternecine conflicts have been going on in the Republic of Yemen almost from the moment that the republic was established in 1990. However, what distinguishes the most recent bouts of fighting from past clashes is the way religion has been brought into the fray. Antigovernment Houthis have stated that they are defending their unique Zaydi version of Islam against Wahhabi/Salafi subversion. Those leading the pro-government faction increasingly portray the conflict as part of the larger struggle against Iranian/Shia infringement of Sunni areas. Constructivist theories of international relations can go some way in helping to understand these recent developments. The definition of an “identity” – whether in terms of religion, ethnicity or culture – serves as a rallying point for a collective body that perceives itself as being under some kind of threat. Hence, as the Saudi military coalition encroached into Houthi-controlled areas in the west and north of Yemen, the Houthis promoted their distinct ethno-religious identity to help mount resistance. In addition, the Houthis focused on their Shia identity to gain support from Iran, the traditional defender of Shia Muslims, as well as from the international community, which generally condemns ethnic or religious discrimination. As for the opposing side in the Yemeni government, explaining the conflict in terms of not only Iranian but also Shia expansionism (the two generally being seen as synonymous) helps to secure continued Saudi support. This paper evaluates how this kind of political sectarianism is framed by Yemeni leaders and spokespeople of the two sides in their public comments – largely speeches, interviews and official statements. At the same time, it takes a broader perspective and applies the same kind of analysis to the stories published by key regional news outlets. By putting this frame analysis into a simple “then vs now” comparison, this paper seeks to determine whether sectarianism has in some way grown worse over the last five years. It is the contention of this paper that, although there is an endemic sectarian element to the Yemen conflict, this is largely exaggerated by observers who claim that it is its main driver. The apparent increase in the religiosity among the opposing parties can be traced to the presence of foreign sponsors, who have a vested interest in portraying the conflict as part of something that transcends base power politics.Show less

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To What Extend Has Sectarianism Increased During the Yemeni Civil War?