The Geopolitics of the Sunni-Shi'a Divide in the Middle East.

• Author: Cotter, Michael W.

The Geopolitics of the Sunni-Shi'a Divide in the Middle East

By Samuel Helfont, Associate Scholar in FPRI's Program on the Middle East

Text: https://www.fpri.org/articles/2013/12/geopolitics-sunni-shii-divide-middle-east

SYMPOSIUM

This lecture from an FPRI conference for teachers is well worth reading for two reasons. First, it provides an excellent, clear explanation of the theological and historical divide between Sunni and Shi'a Islam. Second, it provides a concise yet detailed analysis of the current state of the relationship between the two and their importance in understanding politics in the Middle East today. The importance of the first purpose is underscored by the introductory paragraph in which the author describes a 2006 New York Times reporter's attempt to learn how clearly senior U.S. government officials and legislators understood the distinction. The depressing result was that most had "no clue" whether key actors were Sunni or Shi'a. One can only hope that the intervening seven years have heightened official awareness of the differences.

Presumably most readers of American Diplomacy are familiar with the two branches, but it is always good to have a refresher, and the author's description of the various sects within, or allied with, Shi'a Islam is particularly useful.

Unusually, and usefully, in addition to explaining the differences between the branches, the author provides examples of "ecumenical," interrelationships that connect them. Continuing this theme, his analysis of the current geopolitical importance of the two branches of Islam also highlights the fact that in the current unsettled situation in the Middle East the interests and actions of the two branches cross both sectarian and national boundaries. Finally, the author provides an insightful analysis of the impact the Sunni and Shi'a divide is likely to have on the Syrian Civil War and more broadly in the Middle East.

The opening remarks of Samuel Helfont's experience with U.S. officials in understanding the difference between Sunni and Shi'a sects of Islam rang a bell with this reviewer. By virtue of my contact with the so-called "Green Beret" terrorist, Mohamed Ali, at Ft. Bragg North Carolina, the FBI came to interview me. The two investigators were totally ignorant of the various branches of Islam. Overall, the ignorance of journalists and even the academic world about Shi'ism is pervasive. For instance, in my course on Islam in the American University of...