Sectarianization of Identity and Nation Building in Saudi Arabia

Year 2019, Volume: 11 Issue: 1, 114 - 141, 01.06.2019

Zeba Khan

https://doi.org/10.1080/00263209808701231?needAccess=true

Abstract

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was founded on 23rdSeptember 1932 by the strategic amalgamation of dual kingdoms of Hejaz and Najd under Ibn Saud. Like all nation building paradigms, there are some prominent nation building tenants of the Saudi Kingdom as well. This paper is an analysis of the historical foundation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a nation and locates the role of sectarianization of identity in hindering the recent initiatives of rebuilding the Saudi nation state, by modernizing its economy and cultural space. The study is a brief examination of how the sectarian political biases were exercised in the country’s formative years, and the departure point of sectarianization in Saudi Arabia. The article also takes a case study of one of the sects in Saudi Arabia; the Ismailis of Najran and it moves on to briefly explain the international norms and standards making thorough reflections on sectarian discrimination inside the country. Lastly, the article also delves into the consequences of sectarian politics as a roadblock in nation building in Saudi Arabia

Keywords

Sectarianization, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Nation Building, Ismailis of Najran

Suudi Arabistan’da Kimlik ve Ulus İnşasının Mezhepselleşmesi

Abstract

Suudi Arabistan Krallığı 23 Eylül 1932’de Hicaz ve Necid ikili krallıklarının İbn Suud liderliğinde stratejik olarak birleştirilmesiyle kurulmuştur. Bütün ulus inşası paradigmaları gibi, Suudi Krallığı’nın da bazı önemli ulus inşa mutasarrıfları bulunmaktadır. Bu makale, bir millet olarak Suudi Arabistan Krallığının tarihî kuruluşunu incelemekte ve kimliğin mehzepselleşmesinin, ekonomik ve kültürel alanda modernizasyona giden Suudi ulus devletinin son süreçte yeniden inşa girişimlerinin engellenmesindeki rolüne odaklanmaktadır. Çalışma, mezhepçi siyasi önyargıların ülkenin oluşum yıllarında nasıl uygulandığının ve Suudi Arabistan’daki mezhepselleşmenin çıkış noktasının kısa bir incelemesidir. Makale ayrıca Suudi Arabistan’daki tarikatlardan biri olan Necran İsmailileri üzerine vaka incelemesi yapmakta ve daha sonra ülke içindeki mezhepsel ayrımcılığa ışık tutarak uluslararası norm ve standartları kısaca açıklamaktadır. Son olarak, makale ayrıca, Suudi Arabistan’daki ulus inşasının önünde bir engel olarak mezhepçi siyasetin sonuçlarını da ortaya koymaktadır.

Keywords

Mehzepselleşme, Suudi Arabistan Krallığı, Ulus İnşası, Necran İsmailileri

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