INSTITUTIONALIZING INSECURITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST: A CONSTRUCTIVIST ANALYSIS OF IRAN–SAUDI PROXY RIVALRY AND REGIONAL FRAGMENTATION

Abstract

This study is a critical assessment of the Iran-Saudi Rivalry in terms of its proxy character, hence putting forward the assertion, the rivalry is not merely a geopolitical struggle of supremacy but is essentially a system of proxy war, battle of ideologies, and insecurity in the region. Based on the Constructivist Theory and Regional Security Complex Theory, the research examines five of the most prominent cases of proxy operations that include Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and Bahrain, which saw the weakening of state sovereignty, polarization, sectarian intentions, and external interventions. The evidence would indicate that the instrumentation of religious identity and non-state actors by Iran, as well as Saudi Arabia, has been used to project power with less confrontation. The analysis shows that the strategic payoff on this rivalry is finely balanced by its humanitarian devastation, the collapse of states, and the fragmentation of regions. This dissertation finally suggests a transition into regional dialogue, de-sectarianized diplomacy, de-proxy-Caution, and multilateral conflict resolution policies to overcome the causes and consequences of this long-lasting conflict.