Samira Nasirzadeh is a PhD candidate in International Relations at Lancaster University, UK where she is currently working as a fellow at the Richardson Institute.Ana Maria Kumarasamy is a PhD candidate at Lancaster University, where she is currently working as a coordinator at the Richardson Institute. She is also a PhD fellow at SEPAD, the sectarianism, proxies and de-sectarianisation project.Elias Ghazal is a PhD candidate in International Relations at Lancaster University. He is currently working as a fellow at the Richardson Institute and he is a PhD fellow at SEPAD, the sectarianism, proxies and de-sectarianisation project.Eyad Alrefai is a Ph.D. candidate in Politics and International Relations at Lancaster University where he ia a fellow at the Sectarianism, Proxies and De-sectarianisation (SEPAD) project.

• Introduction, Sectarianism, geopolitics and De-Sectarianization in the Middle East, Simon Mabon., University of Lancaster, UK; & Ana Kumarasamy, University of Lancaster, UKSection I: Politics of SectarinianismChapter 1: Politics of Sectarinism in Iraq, Harith Hasan, The Carnegie Middle East Center, USAChapter 2: Taif at Thirty: A Revolution against Orientalism, Madonna Kalousian: Lancaster University, UKChapter 3: The Weakness of Sovereignty in Authoritarian Regimes, Samuel Peter Mace, Leeds University, UKChapter 4: De-essentializing Sectarianism: A Study of Iran’s Regional Politics, Chimat Ladol, Jawaharlal Nehru University, UKSection II: Regional Dynamics & Proxies Chapter 5: The Spectre of Geopolitically Charged Sectarianism, Ibrahim Halawi, Royal Holloway, UKChapter 6: The Deal of Discontent Saudi Arabia, Iran & the Nuclear Deal, Olivia Isabell Glombitza, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, UKChapter 7: Securitization through Sectarianization in Bahrain, Samira Nasirzadeh, Lancaster University, UKChapter 8: Bridging Ethno-Religious Divides by Proxy? Non-State Sponsorship and Sectarianism in the Middle East, Michel Wyss, Military Academy, SwitzerlandChapter 9: The Importance of Framing Conflicts-Building the Narrative of a Proxy War in Yemen, Maria-Louise Clausen: Danish Institute for International Studies, DenmarkChapter 10: Sectarianism and Civil Wars in the MENA Region, Francesco Belcastro: University of Derby, UKSection III: De-sectarianization Chapter 11: Iran’s Soft Power in the Gulf from Islamic Revolution to Post Intra Gulf Crisis, Nesibe Hicret Battaloglu, Middle East Technical University, TurkeyChapter 12: Discursive De-Secterianization: Re-Ordering Saudi Foreign and Domestic Policy Making, Umer Karim, University of Birmingham, UKChapter 13: How to Understand the Role of Al-Azhar in the Sunni-Shi'i Rapprochement?, Hossam Ed-Deen Allam, Lancaster University, UKConclusion, Samira Nasirzadeh, University of Lancaster, UK; Elias Ghazal, University of Lancaster, UK; Eyad Alrefai, University of Lancaster, UK; Ana Kumarasamy, University of Lancaster, UK

Samira Nasirzadeh is a PhD candidate in International Relations at Lancaster University, UK where she is currently working as a fellow at the Richardson Institute.Ana Maria Kumarasamy is a PhD candidate at Lancaster University, where she is currently working as a coordinator at the Richardson Institute. She is also a PhD fellow at SEPAD, the sectarianism, proxies and de-sectarianisation project.Elias Ghazal is a PhD candidate in International Relations at Lancaster University. He is currently working as a fellow at the Richardson Institute and he is a PhD fellow at SEPAD, the sectarianism, proxies and de-sectarianisation project.Eyad Alrefai is a Ph.D. candidate in Politics and International Relations at Lancaster University where he ia a fellow at the Sectarianism, Proxies and De-sectarianisation (SEPAD) project.

• Introduction, Sectarianism, geopolitics and De-Sectarianization in the Middle East, Simon Mabon., University of Lancaster, UK; & Ana Kumarasamy, University of Lancaster, UKSection I: Politics of SectarinianismChapter 1: Politics of Sectarinism in Iraq, Harith Hasan, The Carnegie Middle East Center, USAChapter 2: Taif at Thirty: A Revolution against Orientalism, Madonna Kalousian: Lancaster University, UKChapter 3: The Weakness of Sovereignty in Authoritarian Regimes, Samuel Peter Mace, Leeds University, UKChapter 4: De-essentializing Sectarianism: A Study of Iran’s Regional Politics, Chimat Ladol, Jawaharlal Nehru University, UKSection II: Regional Dynamics & Proxies Chapter 5: The Spectre of Geopolitically Charged Sectarianism, Ibrahim Halawi, Royal Holloway, UKChapter 6: The Deal of Discontent Saudi Arabia, Iran & the Nuclear Deal, Olivia Isabell Glombitza, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, UKChapter 7: Securitization through Sectarianization in Bahrain, Samira Nasirzadeh, Lancaster University, UKChapter 8: Bridging Ethno-Religious Divides by Proxy? Non-State Sponsorship and Sectarianism in the Middle East, Michel Wyss, Military Academy, SwitzerlandChapter 9: The Importance of Framing Conflicts-Building the Narrative of a Proxy War in Yemen, Maria-Louise Clausen: Danish Institute for International Studies, DenmarkChapter 10: Sectarianism and Civil Wars in the MENA Region, Francesco Belcastro: University of Derby, UKSection III: De-sectarianization Chapter 11: Iran’s Soft Power in the Gulf from Islamic Revolution to Post Intra Gulf Crisis, Nesibe Hicret Battaloglu, Middle East Technical University, TurkeyChapter 12: Discursive De-Secterianization: Re-Ordering Saudi Foreign and Domestic Policy Making, Umer Karim, University of Birmingham, UKChapter 13: How to Understand the Role of Al-Azhar in the Sunni-Shi'i Rapprochement?, Hossam Ed-Deen Allam, Lancaster University, UKConclusion, Samira Nasirzadeh, University of Lancaster, UK; Elias Ghazal, University of Lancaster, UK; Eyad Alrefai, University of Lancaster, UK; Ana Kumarasamy, University of Lancaster, UK

Samira Nasirzadeh is a PhD candidate in International Relations at Lancaster University, UK where she is currently working as a fellow at the Richardson Institute.Ana Maria Kumarasamy is a PhD candidate at Lancaster University, where she is currently working as a coordinator at the Richardson Institute. She is also a PhD fellow at SEPAD, the sectarianism, proxies and de-sectarianisation project.Elias Ghazal is a PhD candidate in International Relations at Lancaster University. He is currently working as a fellow at the Richardson Institute and he is a PhD fellow at SEPAD, the sectarianism, proxies and de-sectarianisation project.Eyad Alrefai is a Ph.D. candidate in Politics and International Relations at Lancaster University where he ia a fellow at the Sectarianism, Proxies and De-sectarianisation (SEPAD) project.

• Introduction, Sectarianism, geopolitics and De-Sectarianization in the Middle East, Simon Mabon., University of Lancaster, UK; & Ana Kumarasamy, University of Lancaster, UKSection I: Politics of SectarinianismChapter 1: Politics of Sectarinism in Iraq, Harith Hasan, The Carnegie Middle East Center, USAChapter 2: Taif at Thirty: A Revolution against Orientalism, Madonna Kalousian: Lancaster University, UKChapter 3: The Weakness of Sovereignty in Authoritarian Regimes, Samuel Peter Mace, Leeds University, UKChapter 4: De-essentializing Sectarianism: A Study of Iran’s Regional Politics, Chimat Ladol, Jawaharlal Nehru University, UKSection II: Regional Dynamics & Proxies Chapter 5: The Spectre of Geopolitically Charged Sectarianism, Ibrahim Halawi, Royal Holloway, UKChapter 6: The Deal of Discontent Saudi Arabia, Iran & the Nuclear Deal, Olivia Isabell Glombitza, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, UKChapter 7: Securitization through Sectarianization in Bahrain, Samira Nasirzadeh, Lancaster University, UKChapter 8: Bridging Ethno-Religious Divides by Proxy? Non-State Sponsorship and Sectarianism in the Middle East, Michel Wyss, Military Academy, SwitzerlandChapter 9: The Importance of Framing Conflicts-Building the Narrative of a Proxy War in Yemen, Maria-Louise Clausen: Danish Institute for International Studies, DenmarkChapter 10: Sectarianism and Civil Wars in the MENA Region, Francesco Belcastro: University of Derby, UKSection III: De-sectarianization Chapter 11: Iran’s Soft Power in the Gulf from Islamic Revolution to Post Intra Gulf Crisis, Nesibe Hicret Battaloglu, Middle East Technical University, TurkeyChapter 12: Discursive De-Secterianization: Re-Ordering Saudi Foreign and Domestic Policy Making, Umer Karim, University of Birmingham, UKChapter 13: How to Understand the Role of Al-Azhar in the Sunni-Shi'i Rapprochement?, Hossam Ed-Deen Allam, Lancaster University, UKConclusion, Samira Nasirzadeh, University of Lancaster, UK; Elias Ghazal, University of Lancaster, UK; Eyad Alrefai, University of Lancaster, UK; Ana Kumarasamy, University of Lancaster, UK