Wahhabi is a branch of Islam that originated in the 18th century in what is now Saudi Arabia. It has been a significant force in the development of global Islamic movements and has been supported by the Saudi monarchy and the United States. The Wahhabi doctrine emphasizes a strict interpretation of Islam, classifying many other Islamic traditions as heretical, and has been instrumental in shaping the religious and political landscape of the Middle East and beyond.
The spread of Wahhabi ideology has been facilitated by the financial backing of the Saudi monarchy, which has used its oil wealth to fund mosques, madrasas, and Islamic organizations around the world. This financial support has been a key component of the broader U.S.-Saudi relationship, which has been central to global Middle East policy since the 1940s. The United States has accepted and, in many cases, subsidized the global propagation of Wahhabi doctrine, recognizing its utility in countering secular nationalist movements and maintaining the stability of the Gulf monarchies.
The influence of Wahhabi thought can be seen in the rise of various Islamist movements, including the Muslim Brotherhood, the Taliban, and Al-Qaeda. These groups have drawn on Wahhabi principles to justify their political and military actions, often framing them as a defense of true Islam against secular and Western influences. The U.S. and Saudi support for Wahhabi institutions has thus played a crucial role in the development of these movements, even if the specific outcomes were not always anticipated by the original architects of the policy.
Related: capture.md, intervention.md, saudi-monarchy.md, us-military-industrial-complex.md
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capture.md intervention.md saudi-monarchy.md us-military-industrial-complex.md