Syria, located in the Middle East, has been under the clutches of civil war for the last decade. In this paper an attempt to offer a detailed analysis of the Syrian civil war, begins by a brief review of the history of the Middle East and how the Syrian nation came into existence. The Middle East as we know it today, was under the Ottoman Empire in the beginning of the twentieth century . The whole Mediterranean region covering what is now Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, North Yemen, Jordan, and Palestine was under Ottoman rule . However, after about 500 years, the Ottoman empire began to crumble under the weight of internal insurrections, Arab revolts, and incoming British and French conquests of the region.
With the conclusion of World War I, the British and French governments came up with the Sykes-Picot Agreement that redrew boundaries in the Middle East, dividing into several nation-states. This agreement mainly catered for British and French colonial, strategic, national and geopolitical interests and not those of the region’s inhabitants. However, in the 1920s, Syrians began agitating for independence with nationalists against the division of Greater Syria covering Palestine, Lebanon and Transjordan as British and French Mandates.
The French would later invade Damascus in 1920, overturning Emir rule in Syria. This would later be followed by a rebellion by Druze rebels in 1925 and subsequent revolts until 1936 when an agreement was reached between the French and the Syrians on the terms of independence. Unfortunately the agreement was not ratified by the French whose government fell in 1941 under German invasion in World War II. Before the Germans could get to Syria, the British invaded her. The French left Syria in 1946 with April 17 becoming the official Syrian independence day. The newly independent Syria was composed of Alawites, Druze, Christians, Sunnis, Kurds, Circassians, Turkomans, Jews and Ishmaelites all competing with one another socially, politically, and even economically. These competitions established the roots of the present-day civil war.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The Syrian Civil War
- Actors in The Syrian Civil War
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to provide a detailed analysis of the Syrian Civil War, beginning with a brief overview of Syria's history and formation as a nation-state. The analysis explores the complex interplay of internal and external factors that contributed to the conflict's eruption and escalation.
- The historical context of Syria's formation and internal divisions.
- The role of the Assad regime and its policies in fueling the conflict.
- The involvement of various internal and external actors in the war.
- The economic and social factors contributing to the unrest.
- The impact of the war on the Syrian population and the surrounding region.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the analysis of the Syrian Civil War by providing a concise history of Syria's formation. It begins by describing the region's status under the Ottoman Empire and traces the impact of World War I and the Sykes-Picot Agreement on the redrawing of Middle Eastern boundaries. The chapter highlights the subsequent struggle for Syrian independence from French colonial rule, emphasizing the diverse ethnic and religious composition of the newly formed nation and how these internal divisions laid the groundwork for future conflict. The historical context presented serves as a crucial backdrop for understanding the complex roots of the civil war.
The Syrian Civil War: This chapter delves into the internal factors that directly led to the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War. It discusses the dysfunctional parliamentary system of the 1950s, highlighting the tensions between the Sunni Muslim majority and various minority groups. The rise of the Ba'ath Party under Hafez al-Assad and its empowerment of Alawite minorities is analyzed, along with the resulting social and political consequences. The chapter also examines the detrimental economic policies, corruption, and declining living standards that further destabilized the country, culminating in the widespread unrest that erupted in 2011. The chapter underscores the interplay of political, social, and economic factors that ultimately triggered the civil war.
Actors in The Syrian Civil War: This chapter focuses on the diverse range of actors, both internal and external, who played significant roles in the Syrian Civil War. It begins by describing the initial protests and the subsequent formation of opposition groups. The chapter then analyzes the Syrian government's reliance on its security apparatus, minority support, and propaganda to maintain power. It further details the involvement of external actors, including the support provided by Russia and Iran to the Assad regime, and the support given to opposition forces by various countries in the region and beyond. The chapter also highlights the involvement of groups such as ISIS, the Islamic Front, and the YPG, shedding light on the complex and multifaceted nature of the conflict's participants.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Syrian Civil War, Assad regime, Alawite, Sunni, internal conflict, external intervention, ISIS, Free Syrian Army (FSA), geopolitics, Middle East, sectarianism, economic factors, political instability, refugees.
Frequently Asked Questions: Comprehensive Language Preview of the Syrian Civil War
What is this document?
This document is a comprehensive language preview providing an overview of a paper analyzing the Syrian Civil War. It includes the table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
What topics are covered in the Table of Contents?
The Table of Contents lists the following sections: Introduction, The Syrian Civil War, and Actors in the Syrian Civil War.
What are the objectives and key themes of the paper?
The paper aims to provide a detailed analysis of the Syrian Civil War, exploring the interplay of internal and external factors that led to its eruption and escalation. Key themes include Syria's historical context, the Assad regime's role, the involvement of various actors, economic and social factors, and the war's impact.
What does the Introduction chapter cover?
The introduction provides a concise history of Syria's formation, covering its status under the Ottoman Empire, the impact of World War I and the Sykes-Picot Agreement, the struggle for independence from French colonial rule, and the diverse ethnic and religious composition of the nation, highlighting how these divisions contributed to future conflict.
What are the main points of "The Syrian Civil War" chapter?
This chapter focuses on the internal factors leading to the war, including the dysfunctional parliamentary system, tensions between Sunni and minority groups, the rise of the Ba'ath Party and the Assad regime, detrimental economic policies, corruption, and declining living standards that fueled unrest in 2011.
What does the "Actors in The Syrian Civil War" chapter discuss?
This chapter examines the various internal and external actors involved, including initial protests, opposition groups, the Syrian government's strategies, the roles of Russia and Iran supporting the Assad regime, support for opposition forces from other countries, and the involvement of groups like ISIS, the Islamic Front, and the YPG.
What are the keywords associated with this paper?
Keywords include: Syrian Civil War, Assad regime, Alawite, Sunni, internal conflict, external intervention, ISIS, Free Syrian Army (FSA), geopolitics, Middle East, sectarianism, economic factors, political instability, and refugees.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Mbogo Wa Wambui (Autor:in), 2020, Syrian Civil War. An Analysis of its Genesis, the Actors and Their Interests, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1130302
