UAE Exposed - Dirty Authoritarian Politics and Promotion of Sufi Values | Andreas Krieg | Thinking Muslim

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The UAE has curated a string of anti-revolutionary non-state actors across the Middle East to serve the state’s deeply secular interests. Abu Dhabi has waged a war against Islamic civil society and non-state actors under the pretext of fighting “terrorism” and today acts as the primary means by which the small but effective federation of seven emirates prevents the rise of independent states in the Middle East. Behind every foiled attempt to wrestle power from Arab dictators is the UAE, which has used its petrodollars and economic prowess to curtail civil society activism. Its deep alliance with Israel and its Zionist project have given the UAE an unprecedented means to act as a spoiler in the region. Today, we explore the tentacles of this project and its impact upon the hopes of much of ordinary Arab Muslim society.

Our guest today is Dr Andreas Krieg, an associate professor at the Defence Studies Department of King's College London and a strategic risk consultant working for clients in the Middle East and beyond. He recently penned a piece which forms the backdrop of our conversation on the assertive statecraft of the UAE.

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His article: https://www.middleeasteye.net/big-story/abu-dhabi-built-axis-secessionists-across-region-how

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Timestamps:
0:00 – Introduction
2:19 – UAE’s role in Middle East
6:02 – UAE and 2011
7:48 – Hierarchy of UAE
10:20 – Donate to Baitulmaal
11:20 – Anti-Revolutionary forces
14:51 – US policy and UAE
18:36 – UAE’s removal of Morsi
23:20 – Counter revolutionary movement explained
27:19 – Islamic society contradiction
30:51 – UAE strategy
32:36 – UAE, Sudan, Hemedti
40:56 – Sudan’s case in ICJ
44:11 – UAE and Libya
50:19 – Unease about bloodshed?
51:31 – Syria
53:20 – UAE and Israel
56:07 – How to resist UAE statecraft
59:37 – Disapproval from Emirati public?