Securitising Identity: The Case of the Saudi State

reconciliation that goes beyond op-ed pieces in international newspapers, a favorite tool of Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif. This is a book of tremendous value to readers at all levels, including specialists of the Gulf region and the Middle East, academics and others interested in international relations, security studies, and conflict resolution, and informed readers wishing to acquire a deeper understanding of the region and the Middle East more broadly. It is accessible and free of jargon, yet in-depth and full of solid analysis. Most importantly, it is well-researched and is meticulously objective, to the point of explaining why the names of the two countries appear in the book in the order that they do (for alphabetical reasons). As with every book, there is room for improvement. Apart from interviews with experts and figures involved in the issue, which is extremely valuable, there are no sources used that are in Arabic or in Farsi. Most likely, such sources either do not exist or are far and few between. If that is indeed the case, it should have been mentioned. There are also discussions, such as the history of the rivalry, that could have benefited from greater depth and detail. But neither of these minor criticisms really detract from the book’s invaluable contributions to the literature. Iran and Saudi Arabia: Taming a Chaotic Conflict is a solid work of scholarship, whose significance goes far beyond the academy. One only hopes that policymakers in Tehran and Riyadh read it and take its lessons to heart.