CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE WEBCAST

The New Sectarianism: The Arab Spring and The Rebirth Of The Shi’a-Sunni Divide

A conversation with:
Geneive Abdo
Nonresident Senior Fellow, Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East
Atlantic Council

Joyce Karam
Washington Bureau Chief
Al-Hayat Newspaper

Nearly six years after the Arab uprisings began, the dream of a pan-Islamic awakening is now more elusive than ever. The wave of unrest has deepened ethnic and religious tensions between Sunni and Shia, pushing them once again to the fore. Religious differences and how Muslims define themselves have emerged as salient characteristics within Arab society, rivalling the broader conflict between Muslims and the West as the primary challenge facing Islamic societies of the Middle East. 

The New Sectarianism considers the causes of the growing Sunni-Shia animosity in key countries such as Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. This renewed sectarianism is particularly corrosive in the face of generally weak states, which today characterize many countries in the region. The event will illustrate how Shia and Sunni perceive one another after the Arab uprisings, and how these perceptions have affected Arab life