When dealing with Saudi Arabia’s policies towards the Yemeni conflict, it is worthwhile taking the domestic level of analysis into consideration. Among the many domestic factors which might be relevant to this study, the author will focus on three dimensions: Saudi Arabia’s population, the economic dimension which also affects the Kingdom’s foreign policy, and the regional environment in the Persian Gulf.
In March 2015, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia embarked on a military intervention in neighboring Yemen. About half a year earlier, in September 2014, the Shiʿa Houthi rebels (self-declared Ansar Allah, Arabic for “Helpers of God”) had seized control over Yemen’s capital Sanaʿa and forced the incumbent Yemeni president Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi to flee, first to the Southern city of Aden, then in March 2015 to Saudi Arabia where he has stayed ever since (mostly). The primary goal of the Saudi-led military coalition (including the United Arab Emirates and several Yemeni militias) has been to expel the Houthi rebels from the capital Sanaʿa and to reinstall the internationally recognized government of Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi (without success until the time of writing).
Which domestic and regional constellations can explain Saudi Arabia’s policies towards Yemen since the beginning of the war in March 2015? Instead of looking at these events from the Realist perspective (i.e. through the lens of the dominant Realism theory in International Relations), a Foreign Policy Analysis (FPA) approach shall be undertaken. While Realism as a school of thought is primarily concerned with (economic and military) power and security, and may thus have certain advantages in the study of authoritarian states in general, and of the Yemen war, the FPA approach offers valuable insights into the making of the Kingdom’s policies towards Yemen. FPA, in contrast to the strict Realist focus on the state as a monolithic category, sheds light on differences within the state and other factors, be they economic or transnational.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Saudi Arabia’s Population
The Economic Dimension
Saudi Arabia’s Regional Environment
Conclusion
Research Objectives and Key Themes
This paper examines the drivers behind Saudi Arabia’s military intervention in Yemen since 2015, utilizing a Foreign Policy Analysis (FPA) approach to move beyond a purely realist state-centric perspective and analyze how domestic and regional factors shape Saudi strategy.
- The influence of domestic demographics, including the Sunni majority and the Shi'a minority, on foreign policy.
- The impact of shifting economic priorities and financial reserves on the sustainability of the military intervention.
- The role of the regional environment, specifically the containment of Iranian influence and the alignment with the United States.
- The evolution of Saudi rhetoric regarding sectarianism and the proxy conflict with Iran.
- The strategic relationship between Saudi Arabia, the GCC, and the shift towards tacit cooperation with Israel.
Excerpt from the Book
Introduction
In March 2015, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia embarked on a military intervention in neighboring Yemen. About half a year earlier, in September 2014, the Shiʿa Houthi rebels (self-declared Ansar Allah, Arabic for “Helpers of God”) had seized control over Yemen’s capital Sanaʿa and forced the incumbent Yemeni president Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi (b. 1945) to flee, first to the Southern city of Aden, then in March 2015 to Saudi Arabia where he has stayed ever since (mostly). The primary goal of the Saudi-led military coalition (including the United Arab Emirates and several Yemeni militias) has been to expel the Houthi rebels from the capital Sanaʿa and to reinstall the internationally recognized government of Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi (without success until the time of writing).
Which domestic and regional constellations can explain Saudi Arabia’s policies towards Yemen since the beginning of the war in March 2015? Instead of looking at these events from the Realist perspective (i.e. through the lens of the dominant Realism theory in International Relations), a Foreign Policy Analysis (FPA) approach shall be undertaken. While Realism as a school of thought is primarily concerned with (economic and military) power and security, and may thus have certain advantages in the study of authoritarian states in general, and of the Yemen war, the FPA approach offers valuable insights into the making of the Kingdom’s policies towards Yemen. FPA, in contrast to the strict Realist focus on the state as a monolithic category, sheds light on “differences within the state and other factors, be they economic or transnational”.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This chapter introduces the military intervention in Yemen and outlines the study's Foreign Policy Analysis (FPA) approach, identifying three key dimensions: population, economy, and regional environment.
Saudi Arabia’s Population: This chapter analyzes the Saudi state's reliance on the alliance between the ruling family and the Wahhabi clergy, while examining the challenges posed by jihadist threats and the domestic Shi'a minority.
The Economic Dimension: This chapter explores how shifting financial reserves, impacted by oil price fluctuations and the "Vision 2030" reform program, influenced the sustainability and eventual strategic adjustment of the war effort.
Saudi Arabia’s Regional Environment: This chapter investigates the broader regional strategy of containing Iranian influence and the complex geopolitical realignment involving the U.S., Israel, and other GCC states.
Conclusion: This chapter synthesizes the research findings, confirming that while domestic factors played a role, the primary drivers for the intervention were security concerns regarding Iran and the need to maintain U.S. support.
Keywords
Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Foreign Policy Analysis, Houthi rebels, Iran, Sectarianism, Wahhabism, Vision 2030, GCC, Middle East, Geopolitics, Proxy War, Military Intervention, Muhammad bin Salman, Regional Security
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this research paper?
The paper focuses on the motivations and policy-making processes behind Saudi Arabia's decision to intervene militarily in the Yemeni conflict starting in 2015.
What are the central thematic fields discussed?
The work covers domestic demographics, economic policy and financial constraints, and regional geopolitical power struggles, specifically the rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
What is the core research objective?
The objective is to explain Saudi Arabia's Yemen policy by shifting from a traditional Realist perspective to a Foreign Policy Analysis (FPA) framework that considers domestic factors and specific political constellations.
Which methodology is applied in this study?
The author uses a single-case study approach, testing three specific hypotheses related to the population, the economic dimension, and the regional environment against the events in Yemen.
What does the main body of the text cover?
It provides an in-depth analysis of the internal Saudi power structure, the impact of falling oil revenues and the "Vision 2030" program, and the strategic goal of containing Iran through alliances with the U.S. and other Gulf states.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Saudi foreign policy, the Yemen war, proxy conflict, Iranian hegemony, regional security, and the political influence of Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman.
How did falling oil prices affect the Saudi involvement in the Yemen war?
Declining oil revenues and the high costs of the war forced Saudi Arabia to reassess its strategic commitment, contributing to the decision to seek an opt-out strategy and eventually a unilateral cease-fire.
What role does the "domestic audience" play in Saudi foreign policy?
The author suggests that while internal anti-Shi'a sentiment is part of the ideological landscape, the "domestic audience" is largely secondary to the primary goal of securing American support and legitimizing the intervention internationally.
How is the relationship between Saudi Arabia and Israel portrayed?
The paper highlights a growing, tacit alignment between Saudi Arabia and Israel, both of whom identify Iran as a primary security threat and share a desire to contain its regional expansion.
Why did the UAE announce a withdrawal from Yemen while Saudi Arabia remained?
The UAE's withdrawal was a calculated move to avoid further escalation of regional tensions with Iran after realizing that the Houthi rebels could not be militarily expelled.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Anonym (Autor:in), 2020, The Making of Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Policy Towards Yemen Since 2015, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1010845
