Islamic Soft Power in International Relations: A Case Study of Saudi Arabia’s Religious Diplomacy
Keywords:
Islamic soft power, Saudi Arabia, religious diplomacy, Neo-Realism, Hajj diplomacy, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, qualitative analysisAbstract
Saudi Arabia has strategically employed Islamic soft power as a tool of religious diplomacy to expand its geopolitical influence and maintain leadership in the Muslim world. While Soft Power Theory (Nye, 1990) emphasizes attraction and persuasion, this study integrates Neo-Realism (Waltz, 1979) to analyze how Saudi Arabia utilizes religious influence to secure its national interests in an anarchic international system. Through Hajj and Umrah diplomacy, mosque funding, religious education, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Saudi Arabia extends its ideological reach and strengthens global alliances. Additionally, the study examines Saudi Arabia’s strategic competition with Iran and Turkey, highlighting the interplay between religious diplomacy and power politics. Using a qualitative research approach, this study employs content analysis of official policy documents, speeches, and media discourse, along with case studies, to assess the effectiveness and limitations of Saudi religious diplomacy in international relations.
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