ABSTRACT
During the 1990s, the reformist leadership took the countering policy further once the idea of Sunni Islamic political change and reform had taken root and started growing. The leadership involved itself in various external and internal, or domestic, issues which are interrelated, constituting a nexus of interactions. The product was an important discourse aimed at countering certain international, regional and domestic developments. The discourse clarified the political position of the leadership towards events and players, and developed the leadership’s attitude to political reform. The essential dimension of the countering policy during this period was the development of confrontation between the leadership and the Monarchy. The countering policy highlighted a level of mudafa‘a, and, basically, formed an opposition policy, indicating a high-risk political struggle. The leadership laid considerable emphasis on the question of political change and reform.
