Indigenous Yet Suspect: The Securitization of Saudi Arabia’s Shi'a Minority

Authors

• Farah Balut, Southern Methodist UniversityFollow

Abstract

This paper examines the marginalization of Saudi Arabia’s Shi’a minority through the lens of securitization theory. It argues that discrimination against Shi’a citizens is not periodic but embedded within the kingdom’s nation-building project, where Wahhabi orthodoxy has been fused with political loyalty. From early incorporation of the Eastern Province to the upheavals of 1979 and the reform era of Vision 2030, Shi’a identity has been framed as a potential internal threat. By tracing institutional practices, geopolitical anxieties, and lived experiences, the paper demonstrates how securitization structures conditional citizenship while highlighting Shi’a resilience within an evolving Saudi state.

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Recommended Citation

Balut, Farah (2026) "Indigenous Yet Suspect: The Securitization of Saudi Arabia’s Shi'a Minority," The Dialogue: Vol. 11: Iss. 1, Article 7.
Available at: https://scholar.smu.edu/thedialogue/vol11/iss1/7