POLITICAL SHIISM Safavid Dynasty 1501 1736 Established Shiism

POLITICAL SHI’ISM

Safavid Dynasty 1501 - 1736 � � � Established Shi’ism as the state religion Presented a direct challenge to the Sunni Ottomans Ottoman Safavid War 1623 – 1639

Gunpowder Empires

20 th C. United States � � � US – Saudi relations formalized in 1933 based originally on oil interests US has played a major role in Saudi/ Gulf security US has positive relations with Iran govt until 1979

Iranian Revolution � Creates a hegemonic Shi’ite anti-Western state in the Middle East

Outcomes of the Revolution � � � 1979 Khomeini returns to capture the Revolution and develop a Shi’ite state End of relations with US Russia takes on relations with Iran and Syria Shifts regional hostilities away from Religion vs Secularism, to sectarian divisions Iran emerges as a threat to regional neighbours

Cold War Blocs � � � Revolutionary Bloc Led by Iran (Russian Support) � � � Status Quo Bloc Led by Saudi Arabia (US Support)

Major Conflicts with Sectarian Implications � � � � Lebanese Civil War Iran – Iraq War Gulf War II Arab Revolutions Yemen Civil War Syria Iraq Conflict

� US gulf relations increasingly characterized in both economic and security terms that views Iran as the major regional security threat.

Proxy Conflicts � � � Yemen Syria Iraq

Shiafication

Shia Militias Iraq � � � Hashad al Shaabi, the Popular Mobilization Forces legitimized through a fatwa by Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Units have a variety of loyalties; Sistani, the government, Moqtada al-Sadr, Iran Instrumental in challenging DAESH Perceived as problematic to normal Iraq sovereignty Legalized by Iraq Parliament

� � http: //www. aymennjawad. org/19745/the-syriancivil-war-demographic-change Managed Demographic change, designed to weaken Sunni strongholds which represent threats to the regime.