CLASH OF IDEOLOGIES, CIVIL WAR AND THE RISE OF HOUTHIS IN YEMEN: THE IMPLICATIONS OF REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ACTORS

Abstract

Yemen, a country located at geo-strategic nexus of international trade routes, is beleaguered by a civil conflict and has descended into one of the most severe humanitarian crises witnessed in contemporary history. The civil strife, which erupted in March 2015 as widely documented, has intensified due to the engagement of multiple international actors, each pursuing divergent political agendas and advancing respective strategic interests. This article, in this regard, aims to explain how the diverging ideologies eventually precipitated the emergence of an armed political faction—the Houthis. While the article acknowledges the significance of internal dynamics in a civil conflict, it also underscores that the role of overriding international stakes must not be undermined. To understand the intricate web of interests and strategic objectives, the article examines historical context and the role of local, regional, and international actors. It aims to unravel the intricacies of the conflict to provide a comprehensive understanding of the underlying dynamics in the hope to pave a way for the potential solution through reconciliation of various stakeholders involved in the conflict.