The Great Divide

Sunni vs. Shia

From the crisis in Iraq and Syria to the tension between Iran and Saudi Arabia, the struggle between Sunni and Shi‘i groups for dominance is tearing apart the region and shows no signs of abating. How does sectarianism fit into a larger narrative of the Middle East? How have governments manipulated sectarian differences? And finally, what is the U.S. doing about it?

Featured Guests

  • Geneive Abdo, Fellow, Stimson Center
  • Elliott Abrams, Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies, Council on Foreign Relations
  • Deborah Amos, International Correspondent, NPA
  • Mohamad Bazzi, Associate Professor of Journalism, NYU
  • Amb. Barbara Bodine, Former U.S. Ambassador to Yemen
  • Kai Bird, Author, The Good Spy: The Life and Death of Robert Ames
  • Amb. Robert Ford, Former U.S. Ambassador to Syria
  • Amb. Chas. Freeman, Retired from U.S. Foreign Service
  • Shadi Hamid, Author, Temptations of Power
  • Amb. John Hirsch, Adjunct Professor, Columbia University ,SIPA
  • Frederic Hof, Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council
  • William Luers, The Iran Project
  • Fen Osler-Hampson, Director of Global Security Research Prgroam, CIGI
  • Amb. Thomas Pickering, Former Under Secretary of State, Political Affairs
  • Carla Robbins, Adjunct Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations
  • Amb. Frank Wisner, Former U.S. Ambassador to India