International Journal of Humanities and Social Science

ISSN 2220-8488 (Print), 2221-0989 (Online)

MENU

Call for Papers

The Brooklyn Research and Publishing Institute (BRPI) invites academics, scholars, researchers, and professionals from around the world to submit their manuscripts for publication in our wide range of highly esteemed peer-reviewed academic journals.

Read more...

Recruitment of Reviewers

The Brooklyn Research and Publishing Institute (BRPI), a distinguished international publisher of open-access academic journals, is currently inviting qualified scholars to join its esteemed pool of peer reviewers.

Read more...

Article Icon Article Information
Original Research Article | Open Access | Peer Reviewed update icon Check for updates

Political Sectarianism in Contemporary Islamic Thought: The Impact of the Sunni–Shia Divide on the Formation of Regional Alliances after the Arab Spring

Hani Mefleh O. Hamdon Email Awad Abdulraheem Awad Al Dwairi Email
Abstract This research aims to examine the extent to which the Sunni–Shia divide has contributed to consolidating political sectarianism within contemporary Islamic thought and how this has impacted regional alliances after the Arab Spring. The research addresses how this sectarian schism has reinforced political sectarianism and reshaped the geopolitical map of alliances in the region post-Arab Spring. Given the complexity of the subject, encompassing both ideological and political dimensions, this study utilizes an analytical-synthetic approach combined with descriptive and historical methods. Key findings indicate that post-Arab Spring regional transformations (Sunni and Shia) placed regional states in direct confrontation with Iran's expansionist ambitions, marking one of the most intense phases of conflict characterized by significant political and economic shifts. Each party strives to capitalize on these changes in alignment with their strategic interests, often neglecting popular aspirations. The study recommends that religious and intellectual institutions in the Islamic world revive a discourse of Islamic unity grounded in common ethical and doctrinal principles, rejecting exclusionary tendencies fueling political sectarianism through educational platforms, media, and advocacy.
Full Text: PDF   |   DOI: https://doi.org/10.30845/ijhss.vol15p26
Article History:
Received: 28 June 2025 | Accepted: 13 July 2025 | Published: 24 July 2025
Reviewer(s): Dr. Sawaluddin, M.Pd.I, Institut Agama Islam Rokan-Riau, Indonesia; ORCID iD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5041-7301; Phone: +62 821 7174 4586.
Email: [email protected] Dr. Muhammad Khairi Mahyuddin, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia; ORCID iD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3242-5316; Phone: +60 12 906 9830.
Email: [email protected]
Address for Correspondence: Hani Mefleh O. Hamdon, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Faculty of Political Science, Ajloun National University, Ajloun, Jordan.
[email protected]
Cite this article:
APA | MLA | Chicago | Harvard | Vancouver
Article Metrics (Citations):
For the most up-to-date citation information for this article, please refer to Google Scholar.

Note: Citation statistics will only be available once the article is indexed in Google Scholar.