A disputa pela hegemonia do Golfo Pérsico/Arábico: o "crescente xiita" versus o "momento do golfo"

Abstract

Since the Iranian Revolution in 1979 and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in 2003, the pretended threat of an Iranian “Shia crescent” has made the disputing relations for the hegemony of the Persian/Arabian Gulf even more hostile. The dispute between Iran and Saudi Arabia involves several allies in the region and westerns actors, due to the insertion of this conflict being in an economically strategic and indispensable region for the energization of the whole world. Thus, the general objective of this research is to study the tools of the Gulf hegemonic dispute system, which take on worldwide proportions from the conflict between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Saudi Arabia and which range from geopolitics to cultural issues that are fundamental to this understanding. This research is qualitative and will be carried out through academic works, scientific articles, newspapers, and books by authors that are experts in Middle East – as Mehan Kamrava. The United States’ strategic participation in this conflict leads to generate even more disputes, while Iranian support and influence is spread to Shiite communities across the region. The Saudi leadership has been confronted and, therefore, has spared no effort to join allies in this confrontation. This dispute goes beyond antagonistic political ideologies and/or other financial matters, it also brings culture and religion as fundamental actors for the discussion. By that, the entire geopolitical structure of the Gulf is affected.