A Realist Analysis of Saudi Foreign Policy in the 2011 Syrian War

Abstract

Realism emphasizes states’ pursuit of self-interest amidst an anarchic international environment where struggles for power are paramount. The 2011- Syrian war is one of the Middle East’s most protracted conflicts, becoming an arena of struggle amongst regional and international powers. As a regional power, Saudi Arabia was drawn into the Syrian war. This study examines the drivers of Saudi foreign policy towards the Syrian conflict. It explores the extent to which such policy was driven by ideational or material forces. Utilizing a realist framework of analysis, that draws on the balance of threat and neoclassical realist theories, the study argues that Saudi Arabia’s foreign policy towards the Syrian conflict (2011-) sought to balance against both ideational and material threats when faced with two competing goals: undermining Iranian influence, while combatting the growth of radical Islamist groups in the region.