İran ve Suudi Arabistan: Vekalet savaşı ile Ortadoğu'da bitmeyen rekabet

Iran and Saudi Arabia are regional powers in the Middle East having different characteristics. Since the Iranian Islamic revolution, both states have perceived each other as rival. Their foreign policy practices have caused rivalry and hesitation, and pushed these two states to confront each other, even there have been some improvements in relations. These two states have been quite aware of the possibility to increase their influence beyond their territories. On the one hand, emerged conflicts have offered both advantages and opportunities for them to benefit at the expense of the other, whereas on the other hand they have created disadvantages and challenges on many issues such as security and interest which can be abused by the other. They have competed with each other in different conflict zones through employing proxy warfare strategy and in return causing further instabilities in the region. This endless competition is believed to be a highly critical issue affecting various actors and processes in the region. This study aims to develop a complementary analysis on this competition by utilizing the proxy warfare strategy as the theoretical framework to explain reasons of indirect involvement, to reveal their proxies and to examine the bases of proxy relationship. This thesis contributes to an understanding regarding how both rivals have supported the combatting capacities of fighting groups, changed the balance of power and extended time of conflicts in the region. It presents how their proxies have served as tools and helped them to pursue their general and conflict-based aims.