Transnational religious networks and geopolitics in the Muslim World

Abstract

Debates around the sectarianisation of politics across the Middle East and Muslim world more broadly have opened new spaces of enquiry into the interrelationship between religion and geopolitics. The nature of links between Iran and Saudi Arabia and various groups in the Muslim world differs across time and space, shaped by a range of context specific factors. Networks are shaped by the interaction of their constituent parts and the organisation of power among their members and thus, as a consequence networks are neither fixed nor universal. Here, context is key, resulting in different types of relationships across spaces.Much academic and policy-oriented work on transnational religious networks has historically reflected Western governments’ preoccupation with security issues vis-à-vis Islamist ‘extremist’ groups. This narrow prism distorts understanding of the roles that such networks play, and thus necessitates further exploration of the multiple levels and characteristics of transnational religious networks, be they state, sect or community-led.

The irreplaceable piece

“…Shared sectarian identities have provided increased opportunities for the cultivation of transstate networks and relationships -the ongoing trend towards sectarianisation of political life has increased this possibility as well. 17 This approach is possible in large part because of Iran's strong historical connections to the region as well as the relationships and credibility that they have built up over many years of involvement. It is overall much less concerned with the internal activities of actors within Lebanon and more focused on their external, regional action -take, for instance, Hezbollah's involvement in Syria.…”

Afterword: sectarianisation beyond the Middle East

“…Here, one is reminded of Doreen Massey's understanding of space which, according to Massey, is in a constant state of flux, a site of myriad possibilities and shaped through the interaction of the intimately tiny and hegemonic forces (2005). Such an understanding can help to conceptualise the ways in which sectarianisation processes take place, taking place within space, shaped by the intricacies of local groups interacting with -and shaped by -more powerful forces (Mabon and Wastnidge 2019).…”