Saudi Arabia-Iran Relations And Political Instability In Yemen
Dr. Cosmas Chinweze AGBO
Department of Political Science, University of Nigeria
Raymond ADIBE
Department of Political Science, University of Nigeria
Dr. Anselem Ifeanyi UKWUEZE
Department of Political Science, University of Nigeria
Keywords: Saudi Arabia-Iran Relations, Yemeni Conflict, Proxy War, Game Theory, Political Instability
Abstract
Yemen’s instability is almost as old as the country and has been linked by many local and international observers to a long history of political strife, poverty and violence. This study examined Saudi Arabia-Iran relations and political instability in Yemen. The specific objective was to investigate if the struggle between Saudi Arabia and Iran for spheres of influence led to the escalation of the Yemeni conflict. To this end, the zero-sum model of game theory was adopted as our framework of analysis. Data from secondary sources were relied upon for this study and the findings showed that the struggle between Saudi Arabia and Iran for spheres of Influence led to the escalation of the Yemeni conflict. The study recommended that there is need for the United Nations and Arab League to take the lead role in managing the Yemeni civil war and put in deterrent measures to prevent violent escalation of the conflict by external actors, particularly Saudi Arabia, Iran and their allies