The Role of Saudi Arabia in the Middle East within the Context of Modern Geopolitical Challenges

Student: Mukailov Rustam

Faculty: Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs

Educational Programme: Asian Studies (Bachelor)

Year of Graduation: 2017

This graduate work is devoted to investigation of the role of Saudi Arabia in the Middle East within the context of modern geopolitical challenges. During the investigation some geopolitical opportunities of Saudi Arabia, as an energy superpower and as an ideological leader of the islamic world, were determined. Saudi-American relations has a special place in this research, as a geopolitical factor that influences on the political process of the Middle and Near East. Considering the «American factor» an analysis of the confrontation between Saudi Arabia and Iran within the context of modern geopolitical situation in the Middle East and exacerbation of the Sunni-Shiite contradictions were made. Finally, the study ends with conclusions about the character and extent of the influence of Saudi Arabia in the Middle East within the context of modern geopolitical challenges. Key words: the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, Iran, USA, war in Syria, ISIS, Sunni-Shiite contradictions, Islam, Saudi-Iranian relations, Saudi-American relations.

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