Sectarianism in the Arabian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC): Local and Regional Factors

This paper examines sectarianism in the GCC by analyzing internal and regional factors that have made it a protracted phenomenon. Beyond historical and religious explanations, sectarianism is understood as a local problem instrumentalized by local politics that mobilizes and polarizes identities. Regional factors, particularly following the 1979 Iranian Revolution, contribute significantly to flaring sectarianism rather than deep-rooted religious causes. The domination of religion in local politics has fostered alienation through discriminatory policies and reinforced loyalty to elites, with authoritarianism playing a central role in using sectarianism as a tool for perpetuating power.