Post-Saddam Iraq: Caught Between Iran and Saudi Arabia Strategic Rivalry

This thesis explores the complex rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia in postSaddam Iraq, particularly focusing on the period from 2010 to 2014. To capture the complexity of this rivalry, the thesis develops a conceptual framework based on foreign policy analysis, rivalry studies, and international relations theories. Drawing on this framework, it first discusses the determinants of this rivalry at different levels of analysis. Within individual levels of analysis, the key leaders’ personalities will be reviewed. At the group level of analysis, factors such as formal groups and informal networks are studied. At the state level of analysis, a variety of domestic political institutions are considered, including state structures and institutions. At the system level, grand theories about the regional balance of power are unravelled. The ideational factors have also been taken into consideration at different levels of analysis. The thesis also focuses on the actual behaviour of Iran and Saudi Arabia towards Iraq. It considers a variety of foreign policies, ranging from hard power to soft power tools. It discusses how the two countries tried to manipulate the election results in Iraq as well as broker post-election coalition-building to assure that whichever group wins elections will be loyal to them. It also considers the economic weapons, clandestine intelligence, and military support used by Iran and Saudi Arabia in Iraq. It has gone beyond the state level of analysis to explain how events such as the Arab Spring influenced this rivalry. ideational factors have also been taken into consideration at different levels of analysis.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Bradford

Author dc:creator

• Abdullah, Hayder H.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Whitby, Simon M.

• Iran
• Saudi Arabia
• Strategic rivalry
• Rivalry in Iraq
• Foreign policy determinants
• Foreign policy tools
• Post Saddam Iraq
• Iraq elections

Statement dc:rights

• <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/"><img alt="Creative Commons License" style="border-width:0" src="http://i.creativecommons.org/l/by-nc-nd/3.0/88x31.png" /></a><br />The University of Bradford theses are licenced under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/">Creative Commons Licence</a>.

Language dc:language.iso

en

Repository record dc:identifier.uri

https://bradscholars.brad.ac.uk/handle/10454/20939

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:bradscholars.brad.ac.uk:10454/20939