Saudi Arabia and Iran: A New Middle East Cold War?

A presentation by

Professor F. Gregory Gause

John H Lindsey ’44 Chair

Head of the International Affairs Department

Bush School of Government and Public Service

Texas A&M University

One of the top experts on Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf region, Dr. Gause will comment on what is frequently portrayed as a sectarian fight between Sunnis and Shi`a, with Saudi Arabia and Iran leading their respective sides. While there are important elements of truth to this depiction, it fails to capture the root cause of the crisis, which is the weakening and collapse of state authority across much of the Arab world.  It has evolved into what many call a new “Arab cold war.”  This is unlikely to end anytime soon, as the task of rebuilding state authority across the region, not least of which in Saudi Arabia with the rise of Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman, will be a long one, and outside actors will continue to play out their balance of power politics in the region.

When:  Wednesday, February 21, 6:30 p.m.

 Where: Northrup Hall, Room 040, Trinity University

 This talk is sponsored by Dr. David W. Lesch, The Ewing Halsell Distinguished Professor of History, Department of History, Trinity University