"The Kingdom and the Caliphate: Duel of the Islamic States," Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, February 2016 (original) (raw)

The paper explores the conflict between the Islamic State and Saudi Arabia, highlighting how the former claims to represent Wahhabism, a strict interpretation of Sunni Islam indigenous to Saudi Arabia. It details the Islamic State's series of attacks within the kingdom and discusses the historical context of Wahhabism, including its past advocacy for violence against Shia Muslims and sectarianism. The analysis reveals that while the Islamic State's ideology has links to historical Wahhabism, many of its contemporary features diverge from traditional teachings. Despite a recognized counterterrorism infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, the potential for future violence persists, given the resilience of the Islamic State's support base.