THE EFFECTS OF THE SAUDI-IRANIAN RIVALRY ON POLITICS IN LEBANON BETWEEN 2005 AND 2016

Abstract

Saudi-Arabia and Iran have been engaged in a rivalry for control of regional power since 1979. Whereas much of the published literature has focused on the effects of this rivalry in principals, less attention has been paid to the effect of this rivalry on domestic politics in third states. Here I examine the effects of the Saudi-Iranian rivalry on domestic politics in Lebanon between 2005 and 2016 by analyzing three political events. The results of these events were interpreted and three effects of the dyadic rivalry were mapped out. First, rivalry encourages challenging the central government in the third state. Second, rivalry can lead to a military conflict in the third state. Finally, dyadic rivalry hinders the political decision in the third state.