Publication

This paper looks at the role Saudi Arabia’s export of Wahhabi ideology plays in the spread of extremism in Asia. The author first argues that while the US-led coalition against the so-called Islamic State (IS) is attempting to deal with the group militarily, it is not addressing the root cause of IS, which she contends is Saudi Wahhabi ideology. She then outlines how a number of leaders and experts in Asia have highlighted that Wahhabism is radicalizing traditionally moderate Asian Muslims in the region and leading them to join IS and other extremist groups. Finally, she discusses the counterterrorist approaches of Asian countries and argues that these states should reduce their oil imports from Saudi Arabia so as to stop supporting the proliferation of Wahhabism.