The Other Saudis: Shiism, Dissent and Sectarianism

Speaker: Toby Matthiesen, University of Oxford Chair: Toby Dodge, LSE Middle East Centre Toby Matthiesen launches his new book titled The Other Saudis: Shiism, dissent and sectarianism in which he traces the politics of the Shia in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia from the nineteenth century until the present day. The book outlines the difficult experiences of being Shia in a Wahhabi state, and casts new light on how the Shia have mobilised politically to change their position. The book is based on little-known Arabic sources, extensive fieldwork in Saudi Arabia and interviews with key activists. Of immense geopolitical importance, the oil-rich Eastern Province is a crucial but little known factor in regional politics and Gulf security. Recorded on 28 October 2015.