Essay --

Rivalry is a relationship between two or more actors characterised by extreme competitions, and usually psychological antipathy. It is shaped by the past relations between the antagonists and recent interactions between them. The definition of rivalry encompasses two dimensions: competitions over the issues and psychological antipathies. The issues in rivalry may comprise of external or domestic political factors. Rivalry requires a certain level of recognition by actors of two rival states to distinguish them from competitions. It is distinguished from competition among actors by its non-anonymity. In rivalry, each actor knows that autonomous actions will affect the behaviour of every other rival state. In response to these actions, other actors will also react self-protectively. Rivalry is a process that consists of two elements, competition and socialisation. Competition is a situation within which actors find themselves while socialisation is ongoing process that takes place within a competitive situation. Both, Competition and socialisation are determined by capabilities of the rival states. Capabilities allow state a certain position in the international system. If this position is attained it becomes a primary concern for socialization to maintain. Competition accounts for rivalries between states with similar capabilities. Thus, Rivalry is a dynamic state of affair which keeps on f luctuating over the time. Prior to Islamic Revolution, Iran and Saudi Arabia were both status quo monarchies under the US’s ‘twin Pillar’ System. It was the Iranian Revolution that spelt out a radical change in interstate relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia that led to an uncertainty in their relations. The threat that Islamic revolution... ...e. In case of Syria, Saudi Arabia has tried to topple down Iran’s important ally Bashar al-Assad regime. Saudi Arabia aspires to smash the axis between Iran and Syria. By this way, it weakens Iran’s influence in the region and disrupts Iran’s supply links to Hezbollah and Hamas which eventually weakens Iran. Thus, actions taken by Iran and Saudi Arabia against each other on various issues reflect the rivalry between them. In almost all parts of West Asia, the rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia is prevalent and inclined to increase in depth, scope, and intensity. The two states aims at steering the course of events, shaping developments, and influencing decisions according to their respective political preferences. Hence, it can be said that the rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia is shaped by the past relations along with the recent developments in the region.