Unification of the Arabian Peninsula: Abdul Aziz Al Saud's Policy and Strategy

Abstract

This thesis is mainly concerned with the diplomatic policy and strategy pursued by Abdul Aziz lbn Abdur Rahman al-Saud, better known in history and in the west as lbn Saud (hereafter lbn Sa'ud) towards the unification of the major portion of the Arabian Peninsula in the early phase of the twentieth century toppling all his rivals in the area including the Porte understudy. It is an attempt to reconstruct the Saudi history during the period in between 1902- 1932 putting emphasis on the political transformation of the area over the years. Hence it deals with the endeavours pursued by lbn Sa'ud to the cause of restoration and consolidation of the major portion of the Arabian Peninsula. The work is based on original and secondary sources available so far. Mainly the thesis analytically examines and incorporates the political development that took place in the area during the period mentioned above with a brief historical prelude relating to the study. It particularly puts emphasis on the reciprocal relationship between the Wahhabis and the Sa'udis and in between lbn Sa'ud, the Ottomans, the British, Sharif Husain and other pro-Ottoman and anti-Ottoman forces in the area over the years undereview. Since the thesis is an attempt to highlight the situation that helped to a great extent towards the restoration and consolidation of the Saudi power in the Arabian Peninsula under the leadership of lbn Sa'ud, it unveils the weakness of the Ottoman and anti-Ottoman forces of the area. It also evaluates the stand of the British for avoiding entanglement in the central Arabian affairs which paved the way for lbn Sa'ud to establish himself firmly in the regional politics and control it to the cause of his own dynastic interests. It is of course evident that without British blessings it was not possible on his part to achieve such a great success. With the occupation of Riyadh in 1902 till the establishment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932 lbn Sa'ud rose from an obscure tribal chief of a vanquished dynasty to become the well accepted and acknowledged leader to the people of the greater portion of the Arabian Peninsula. Pursuing the principles of Wahhabism, the Islamic reformist movement, lbn Sa'ud was able to induce the tribal and sedentary people including the majority of the traditionally individualistic and warlike sheikhs of the area underreview. Hence the main theme of this research revolves in between 1902 to 1932 during which time lbn Sa'ud pursuing calculative policy and strategy was able to eliminate his chief rivals in the area including the pro-Ottoman Rashidis of Hail and pro-British Sharif Husain in the course of unification of the major portion of the Arabian Peninsula.