Spreading of Salafism in Africa: Mechanisms, Strategies, and Tools of Saudi Arabia's Foreign Policy
Abstract
The role and importance of religion in many countries' foreign policy seem
to be rising again. Many scholars have shown that Saudi Arabia uses the
spread of religion, specifically Salafi Islam, as a tool for its foreign policy and
to strengthen its influence. Saudi Arabia is a crucial player in the MENA
region and the entire Islamic world, and its regional and international
importance is constantly increasing. The author considers understanding
Saudi Arabia’s activities and its foreign policy strategies, mechanisms, and
tools in Africa as very important, as Africa is becoming an arena for new
powers once again. The article aims to identify how Saudi Arabia penetrates
African states and spreads Salafism. It focuses on analyzing Saudi foreign
policy, emphasizing the role of religion and its export. The author analyzes
Saudi Arabia's relations with five selected African states, where Salafism is
spreading, in the period from 2015 to the present.
Keywords
Saudi Arabia, Africa, Salafism, religion in foreign policy, religious diplomacy, foreign policy tools, foreign policy strategies, foreign relations
Author Biography
Daniel Svoboda
Daniel Svoboda completed his master's studies in Political Science - African
Studies and Political Science - Latin American Studies at the University of
Hradec Králové. Currently, he is a Ph.D. candidate in International Relations
at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen. His academic interests include,
e.g., the areas of Islamic terrorism, the role of religion in politics, non-democratic regimes, and political radicalism and extremism.