Leiden University Student Repository

Mooij, Bastiaan (2020)

Countering Shi'i Expansionism: Saudi Arabia's Reclamation of Religious Legitimacy after 1979

Bachelor thesis | International Studies (BA)

This thesis examines to case studies that influence the religious attitude of Saudi Arabia after the events of 1979. The case studies are the Islamic revolution that was completed in February 1979 and the siege of the Grand Mosque of Mecca in December 1979. The Islamic revolution caused a growth of Shia Islam in the Middle East. This formed a threat for Saudi Arabia in regional politics. While the siege of the Grand Mosque of Mecca was an domestic threat towards the religious authority of the state. Both cases caused an increase of Saudi Arabia's government efforts in proclaiming to be the rightfull leadership in Islam.

Saudi Arabia

religious authority

Sunni vs Shia

Juhayman Al-'Utaybi

Islamic Revolution

Author

Mooij, Bastiaan

Note

This thesis touches upon topics as Wahhabism, the differences between Sunni and Shia, and the creation of the Saudi state

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

The Middle East

Supervisors

Kaptein, Nico J.G.

ECTS Credits

15

Language

en