This book investigates the groundbreaking diplomatic breakthrough between Saudi Arabia and Iran, mediated by China in March 2023a striking departure from the traditional Western-dominated diplomatic processes that have long shaped the Middle East. This pivotal moment reflects a complex interplay of strategic calculations, domestic pressures, and shifting geopolitical realities, with far-reaching implications for regional and global power dynamics. The analysis unpacks the reasons why Saudi Arabiaa key regional actorchose China, rather than a Western power, to mediate its rapprochement with Iran, an enduring rival. It investigates Riyadh's strategic priorities, recalibration of foreign policy, and the broader context of its regional ambitions. Simultaneously, the book explores Iran's motivations for embracing a China-brokered deal, examining how domestic economic challenges, regime stability, and diplomatic isolation influenced its decision to pursue a thaw in relations with Saudi Arabia. By situating this diplomatic realignment within the broader decline of Western influence in the Middle East, the book highlights how new patterns of engagement are emergingones that often bypass traditional Western channels in favor of authoritarian-led mediation. In doing so, it offers insight into the circumstances under which authoritarian states prefer third-party mediation by fellow authoritarian regimesand when such arrangements produce the most durable outcomes. Ultimately, the book offers a novel perspective on the evolving nature of diplomacy in a multipolar world, where emerging powers like China are reshaping the geopolitical landscape through pragmatic, interest-based engagement.

Provides readers with a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the Saudi-Iran diplomatic breakthrough Investigates the unique role of authoritarian states in mediating disputes among similar regimes Introduces a novel theoretical framework analyzing the Saudi-Iran realignment within existing scholarship gaps

Autorentext

Saira Khan is an International Security expert and has been a Professor of International Relations for more than two decades in Canada, Europe, West Asia, the US, and South Asia. She has taught International Relations at McGill University, University of British Columbia, The University of Amsterdam, and The American University in Cairo, among others. She holds a PhD in Political Science from McGill University, Canada, and specializes in International Relations and International Security, including international crisis, conflict, war, and nuclear proliferation. Her regional specializations include South Asia, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.

Inhalt
Chapter 1: Introduction: The Diplomatic Breakthrough and Its Global Significance.- Chapter 2: Historical Context and Evolution of the Saudi-Iran Rivalry and Cooperation Efforts.- Chapter 3: China's Strategic Interests and Role as a Mediator.- Chapter 4: Drivers Behind Rapprochement with Rivals.- Chapter 5: Dynamics of Authoritarian Mediation.- Chapter 6: Saudi Arabia's Perspectives.- Chapter 7: Iran's Calculations.- Chapter 8: Geopolitical Implications, Regional Power Dynamics, and the New Cold War.- Chapter 9: Future Prospects and Challenges.- Chapter 10: Conclusion.