The Other Saudis: Shiism, Dissent and Sectarianism (Cambridge Middle East Studies Book 46)

Toby Matthiesen traces the politics of the Shia in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia from the nineteenth century until the present day. This book outlines the difficult experiences of being Shia in a Wahhabi state, and casts new light on how the Shia have mobilised politically to change their position. Shia petitioned the rulers, joined secular opposition parties and founded Islamist movements. Most Saudi Shia opposition activists profited from an amnesty in 1993 and subsequently found a place in civil society and the public sphere. However, since 2011 a new Shia protest movement has again challenged the state. The Other Saudis shows how exclusionary state practices created an internal Other and how sectarian discrimination has strengthened Shia communal identities. The book is based on little-known Arabic sources, extensive fieldwork in Saudi Arabia and interviews with key activists. Of immense geopolitical importance, the oil-rich Eastern Province is a crucial but little known factor in regional politics and Gulf security. Toby Matthiesen's Work Traces The Regional Politics Of The Shia In The Eastern Province Of Sunni-dominated Saudi Arabia Since The Late Nineteenth Century. The First Comprehensive Book In English On The Topic, It Casts New Light On The Survival Strategies And Political Mobilization Of The Shia Community As It Confronts The Repressive Machinery Of The Saudi Regime. The Spectrum Of Shia Opposition Groups Range From Communists, Since The 1950s, To Khomeinists After The Iranian Revolution, Some Of Whom Use Violence Against The Saudi State. While Most Saudi Shia Opposition Activists Ceased Their Activities After The Agreement With King Fahd In 1993, The Regional Uprisings Since 2011 Have Reinvigorated Tensions Between The Shia And The State. The Eastern Province Is Home To Saudi Arabia's Oil And Is Therefore Of Immense Geopolitical Importance, Featured In All Assessments Of Gulf Security, National Stability, Oil Markets And Saudi-iranian Relations-- Introduction -- 1. Politics Of Notables -- 2. Oil And Dissent -- 3. Shia Islamism -- 4. A Decade Of Confrontation -- 5. No More Revolution -- 6. Marginal Recognition -- 6. A New Antifada. Toby Matthiesen (university Of Cambridge). Includes Bibliographical References (pages 221-256) And Index. "Toby Matthiesen's work traces the regional politics of the Shia in the Eastern Province of Sunni-dominated Saudi Arabia since the late nineteenth century. The first comprehensive book in English on the topic, it casts new light on the survival strategies and political mobilization of the Shia community as it confronts the repressive machinery of the Saudi regime. The spectrum of Shia opposition groups range from Communists, since the 1950s, to Khomeinists after the Iranian revolution, some of whom use violence against the Saudi state. While most Saudi Shia opposition activists ceased their activities after the agreement with King Fahd in 1993, the regional uprisings since 2011 have reinvigorated tensions between the Shia and the state. The Eastern Province is home to Saudi Arabia's oil and is therefore of immense geopolitical importance, featured in all assessments of Gulf security, national stability, oil markets and Saudi-Iranian relations"-- Provided by publisher Scope and content: "Toby Matthiesen's work traces the regional politics of the Shia in the Eastern Province of Sunni-dominated Saudi Arabia since the late nineteenth century. The first comprehensive book in English on the topic, it casts new light on the survival strategies and political mobilization of the Shia community as it confronts the repressive machinery of the Saudi regime. The spectrum of Shia opposition groups range from Communists, since the 1950s, to Khomeinists after the Iranian revolution, some of whom use violence against the Saudi state. While most Saudi Shia opposition activists ceased their activities after the agreement with King Fahd in 1993, the regional uprisings since 2011 have reinvigorated tensions between the Shia and the state. The Eastern Province is home to Saudi Arabia's oil and is therefore of immense geopolitical importance, featured in all assessments of Gulf security, national stability, oil markets and Saudi-Iranian relations"