Abstract
In recent years, the rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran has become increasingly important in shaping the nature of Middle Eastern security. The execution of the Shiʿi cleric Nimr al-Nimr resulted in the storming of the Saudi embassy and the severing of diplomatic relations between the two states. Nimr's execution was the latest in a long line of incidents that increased tensions between the two, dating back to the time of the Shah. A growing literature exists that seeks to understand the nature of this rivalry, with a particular focus on its sectarian and geopolitical dimensions. This article reviews a number of recent works on this rivalry, which approach the discussion from a range of different backgrounds. Such approaches all seek to challenge the conventional narrative that the rivalry can be boiled down to sectarian differences.
