| Summary/Abstract |
The purpose of this analysis is to critically examine the relationship between the al‐sahwa al‐islamiyya (Islamic Awakening) movement and the Saudi state following the 2011 Arab uprisings. Typically referred to as the “Sahwa,” this organization is a hybrid of Wahhabi Islamic theology and the political ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood. This research argues that the Sahwa and Sahwa‐like or Sahwa‐linked groups and individuals serve as one of the greatest legitimate threats to the Saudi government's monopoly over the domestic political and religious spheres. While the history of the relationship between the Sahwa and the Saudi state comprises both cooptation and repression, the period following the Arab uprisings has witnessed a dramatic increase in the latter. This is particularly true of the years dominated by King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS). Recent arrests coupled with the Saudi government's policies and rhetoric demonstrate that the issue of the Sahwa remains a challenge to its authority. This work also argues that domestic political concerns and regional geopolitical developments have converged in such a manner that they should be viewed as interconnected strategic theaters.
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