The Path to Dominance: A Political Discourse Analysis of Saudi Foreign Policy in Syria and Yemen
(2024) SIMZ41 20241Graduate School
- Abstract
- Since the start of the Arab Spring in 2010, the Middle East has changed drastically. As a result, global and regional powers have turned to the most vulnerable countries, including Syria and Yemen. Saudi Arabia, a regional power, has been actively involved in both the civil wars of Syria and Yemen. This study focuses on the Saudi foreign policy discourse vis-à-vis two cases, Syria and Yemen. Since the Middle East is a dynamic and constantly developing region, the study will analyze the fluctuation in Saudi foreign policy and its actual actions as a result of its discourse.
This study thus aims to explain how the Saudi foreign policy discourse has changed over time, in accordance with the developments in Syria and Yemen, by applying... (More) - Since the start of the Arab Spring in 2010, the Middle East has changed drastically. As a result, global and regional powers have turned to the most vulnerable countries, including Syria and Yemen. Saudi Arabia, a regional power, has been actively involved in both the civil wars of Syria and Yemen. This study focuses on the Saudi foreign policy discourse vis-à-vis two cases, Syria and Yemen. Since the Middle East is a dynamic and constantly developing region, the study will analyze the fluctuation in Saudi foreign policy and its actual actions as a result of its discourse.
This study thus aims to explain how the Saudi foreign policy discourse has changed over time, in accordance with the developments in Syria and Yemen, by applying offensive realism. By analyzing Saudi statements, government documents and interviews, it should be possible to see how offensive realism plays out from a Saudi perspective.
The study highlights that Saudi foreign policy discourse appears to be harmonious and peaceful, when Saudi action actually turns out to be aggressive and power-maximizing. Saudi Arabia sees itself as the hegemon and the threat to it derives from Iran. Saudi discourse and its actions have thus been based on this threat. Failed foreign policy objectives in Syria have resulted in greater involvement in Yemen, where Iran continues to pose a threat to Saudi Arabia together with the Houthi rebels. Despite this, the Saudi foreign policy discourse has changed over time, and diplomatic relations have been restored between Saudi Arabia and Syria and Iran. The Saudi foreign policy discourse has de facto become more pragmatic towards its rival, Iran. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9175129
- author
- Hododi, Robin LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- SIMZ41 20241
- year
- 2024
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Saudi Arabia, Offensive Realism, Political Discourse Analysis, The Syrian Civil War, The Yemeni Civil War
- language
- English
- id
- 9175129
- date added to LUP
- 2024-09-23 11:38:48
- date last changed
- 2024-09-23 11:38:48
@misc{9175129,
abstract = {{Since the start of the Arab Spring in 2010, the Middle East has changed drastically. As a result, global and regional powers have turned to the most vulnerable countries, including Syria and Yemen. Saudi Arabia, a regional power, has been actively involved in both the civil wars of Syria and Yemen. This study focuses on the Saudi foreign policy discourse vis-à-vis two cases, Syria and Yemen. Since the Middle East is a dynamic and constantly developing region, the study will analyze the fluctuation in Saudi foreign policy and its actual actions as a result of its discourse.
This study thus aims to explain how the Saudi foreign policy discourse has changed over time, in accordance with the developments in Syria and Yemen, by applying offensive realism. By analyzing Saudi statements, government documents and interviews, it should be possible to see how offensive realism plays out from a Saudi perspective.
The study highlights that Saudi foreign policy discourse appears to be harmonious and peaceful, when Saudi action actually turns out to be aggressive and power-maximizing. Saudi Arabia sees itself as the hegemon and the threat to it derives from Iran. Saudi discourse and its actions have thus been based on this threat. Failed foreign policy objectives in Syria have resulted in greater involvement in Yemen, where Iran continues to pose a threat to Saudi Arabia together with the Houthi rebels. Despite this, the Saudi foreign policy discourse has changed over time, and diplomatic relations have been restored between Saudi Arabia and Syria and Iran. The Saudi foreign policy discourse has de facto become more pragmatic towards its rival, Iran.}},
author = {{Hododi, Robin}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{The Path to Dominance: A Political Discourse Analysis of Saudi Foreign Policy in Syria and Yemen}},
year = {{2024}},
}