Cold War in the Islamic World: Saudi Arabia, Iran and the Struggle for Supremacy

by Dilip Hiro

Overview

For four decades Saudi Arabia and Iran have vied for influence in the Muslim world. At the heart of this ongoing Cold War between Riyadh and Tehran lie the Sunni-Shia divide, and the two countries' intertwined histories. Saudis see this as a conflict between Sunni and Shia; Iran's ruling clerics view it as one between their own Islamic Republic and an illegitimate monarchy.

This foundational schism has played out in a geopolitical competition for dominance in the region: Iran has expanded its influence in Syria, Iraq and Lebanon, while Saudi Arabia's hyperactive crown prince, Muhammad bin Salman, has intervened in Yemen, isolated Qatar and destabilized Lebanon.

Dilip Hiro examines the toxic rivalry between the two countries, tracing its roots and asking whether this Islamic Cold War is likely to end any time soon.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780197537022
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	10/21/2020
Pages:	432
Product dimensions:	8.40(w) x 5.30(h) x 1.60(d)

About the Author

Dilip Hiro is the author of more than thirty books, including After Empire: The Birth of a Multipolar World; Inside Central Asia; and Apocalyptic Realm: Jihadists in South Asia.

Table of Contents

Preface
Prologue

1. Introduction

2. Black Gold and America Shape Iran and Saudi Arabia

3. Faisal's Enduring Imprint; the Shah's Vaulting Ambition

4. Iran's Islamic Revolution Alarms Saudi Kingdom

5. Iran's Second Revolution; Millennial Challenge to Al Saud

6. Iran-Iraq War Steels Khomeini's Regime

7. Saudi-Iranians Race to Influence the Muslim World

8. Saudi Arabia at Center of Twentieth Century's Last Major War

9. Saudi-Iranian Détente

10. The Gulf Rivals' Eastward March

11. Iran's Nuclear Saga; and Iraq Averts an Inter-sectarian War

12. The Arab Spring - Reversed by Saudi-backed Counterrevolution

13. Multi-front Cold War between Riyadh and Tehran

14. Trump Fuels Gulf Rivals' Cold War

15. Summary and Conclusions

Notes
Select Bibliography

Editorial Reviews

"The contemporary great game playing out bloodily between oil-fired theocracies in Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shia Iran is the subject of Dilip Hiro's latest book. He tells the story with relish."—The Financial Times

"The book has a racy pace and is rich in reportage . . . Hiro marshals an enormous amount of fact and anecdote as he recounts the manner in which regional and global events unfold . . . a rich tapestry."— Financial Express

"Ambitious, impressive, original, and important. Hiro explains the roots of the current rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia in historical terms, examining how developments in the recent past have shaped their differences and similarities"— Mehran Kamrava, Professor, Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, Qatar, and author of Inside the Arab State

"An excellent book… extremely engaging. Hiro explores the various geopolitical aspects of the Saudi-Iranian rivalry since 1979, weaving startling and revealing anecdotes into the analysis."— Kristian Coates-Ulrichsen, Baker Institute for Public Policy, Rice University, and author of First World War in the Middle East

"Eminent historian and prolific author [Dilip] Hiro... focuses on a pertinent crucible of roiling tension in the region... An important study for understanding the roots of current tensions [between Saudi Arabia and Iran]."—Kirkus Reviews

"Hiro is a wonderful raconteur . . . few have told the story of tensions between Riyadh and Tehran quite as well as him."—LSE Middle East Centre Blog

"One comes away from Dilip Hiro's new book... with a heightened appreciation for the complexities of politics in the Islamic world. It is a world where geopolitics and religion intersect in a struggle for power and survival among Islamic regimes."—New York Journal of Books

"Hiro has written a detailed and well-researched history of the Saudi and Iranian relationship... [with] painstaking detail and nuanced portrayal of the complex history of these nations, their relationship and its consequences for the region and the world at large."—Counterpunch

"[A] monumental study."—Business Standard

"Dilip Hiro is one of the most prolific scholars of the Middle East, and there is little that escapes his notice. In this volume, he takes an in-depth look at the new cold war that is brewing in the region . . . a welcome addition to the literature."—Survival

"[Cold War in the Islamic World], based on Hiro's years of research and travels as a journalist, is terse in reporting historical details with disciplined focus in motivations. The book is an easier read for those who closely follow news events from the Middle East in recent years though experienced scholars are sure to appreciate his thoughtful juxtaposition of events that underscore patterns."—YaleGlobal

"Hiro leaves no stone unturned in this account of Middle Eastern conflicts revolving around the Iranian-Saudi rivalry... he treats the subject deeply and thoroughly."—Foreign Affairs

"Iran and Saudi Arabia anchor the sweeping text, which ranges from Pakistan to Egypt and detours as far back as the seventh-century Sunni-Shi'a divide... Hiro's mix of lively writing and serious detail should draw in readers, nonspecialists in particular, with any interest in the subject."—CHOICE Reviews

"A suitable introduction to the Iranian-Saudi relations for someone wanting to go beyond the headlines... Trying to capture the vast sweep of this relationship in a single text is a monumental task... To Hiro's credit, his account is fairly balanced. The research is also impressive in its breadth."—Middle East Journal

"A suitable introduction to the Iranian-Saudi relations for someone wanting to go beyond the headlines ... Trying to capture the vast sweep of this relationship in a single text is a monumental task ... To Hiro's credit, his account is fairly balanced. The research is also impressive in its breadth."—Middle East Journal

From the Publisher