The Politics of Islamic Militancy

Since the 1920s the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has promoted the formal interpretation of Islam in the Kingdom, commonly referred to as Salafism or Wahhabism, through its missionary efforts abroad. However, Salafism is also the religious doctrine to which many Sunni militants subscribe. As a result, some political pundits and the media have frequently linked Saudi Arabia's missionary activity with the rise of Islamic militancy. This lecture explores the alleged connection and questions its veracity.

Speakers

• Bernard Haykel, Professor of Near Eastern Studies; Director, Institute for Transregional Study of the Contemporary Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia, Princeton University

Hosted by

• NYU Abu Dhabi Institute