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Original Research Article | Open Access | Peer Reviewed
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Political Sectarianism in Contemporary Islamic Thought: The Impact of the Sunni–Shia Divide on the Formation of Regional Alliances after the Arab Spring
Hani Mefleh O. Hamdon
Awad Abdulraheem Awad Al Dwairi
Abstract
This research aims to examine the extent to which the Sunni–Shia divide has contributed to consolidating
political sectarianism within contemporary Islamic thought and how this has impacted regional alliances after
the Arab Spring. The research addresses how this sectarian schism has reinforced political sectarianism and
reshaped the geopolitical map of alliances in the region post-Arab Spring. Given the complexity of the subject,
encompassing both ideological and political dimensions, this study utilizes an analytical-synthetic approach
combined with descriptive and historical methods. Key findings indicate that post-Arab Spring regional
transformations (Sunni and Shia) placed regional states in direct confrontation with Iran's expansionist
ambitions, marking one of the most intense phases of conflict characterized by significant political and economic
shifts. Each party strives to capitalize on these changes in alignment with their strategic interests, often
neglecting popular aspirations. The study recommends that religious and intellectual institutions in the Islamic
world revive a discourse of Islamic unity grounded in common ethical and doctrinal principles, rejecting
exclusionary tendencies fueling political sectarianism through educational platforms, media, and advocacy.
Awad Abdulraheem Awad Al Dwairi
Full Text: PDF |
DOI: https://doi.org/10.30845/ijhss.vol15p26
Article History:
Received: 28 June 2025 | Accepted: 13 July 2025 | Published: 24 July 2025
Reviewer(s):
Dr. Sawaluddin, M.Pd.I, Institut Agama Islam Rokan-Riau, Indonesia; ORCID iD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5041-7301; Phone: +62 821 7174 4586.
Email: [email protected] Dr. Muhammad Khairi Mahyuddin, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia; ORCID iD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3242-5316; Phone: +60 12 906 9830.
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected] Dr. Muhammad Khairi Mahyuddin, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia; ORCID iD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3242-5316; Phone: +60 12 906 9830.
Email: [email protected]
Address for Correspondence:
Hani Mefleh O. Hamdon, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science,
Faculty of Political Science, Ajloun National University, Ajloun, Jordan.
[email protected]
[email protected]
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