Anatomising Syrian crisis: Enumerating actors, motivations, and their strategies (2011-2019)

Abstract

Syrian crisis started as a domestic uprising against President Bashar-ul-Assad, and soon engulfed not only the neighbouring states, but also extra-regional great powers. This study tries to anatomise the crisis by addressing the nature of the actors lying at domestic, regional, and system levels, who have rendered the conflict its multifaceted nature. The main question this study addresses is: What are the actors and factors that have contributed to the complexity of the Syrian Civil War and why has this conflict degenerated into a prolonged violent engagement between different groups? While using the theoretical prism of contentious theory of civil war developed by Adrian Florea and in-depth qualitative case study as methodological tool, this study hypothesizes that grievances at the domestic level have resulted in the onset of the conflict in Syria, which was later exacerbated and prolonged by the rise of ISIS and strategic competition among the regional and system level powers. The study concludes that, though the crisis is not over yet, increasing interests and overtures by Saudi Arabia and the domestic growing Syrian animosity towards Iran has opened new avenues for regional and extra-regional involvement in the post-conflict reconstruction for effective governance, peace, and stability in Syria.

Structural Sources of Saudi–Iran Rivalry and Competition for the Sphere of Influence

“…Furthermore, Syria and Yemen descended into civil wars and Bahrain suppressed the movement. Not only states, but several non-state actors, such as Al-Qaeda, also benefited from the movement (Mirza et al, 2021). The objective to enhance their respective spheres of influence in Yemen, Syria, and Bahrain—three case studies for this part of the paper—engendered a strategic competition in which both Saudi Arabia and Iran have established and promoted their proxies.…”

“…Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United States, Turkey, and several other states supported the movement with the objective of overthrowing Assad regime (Demir & Rijnoveann, 2013). Uprisings paved the way for the right-wing religious groups and parties to influence the movement, ultimately giving rise to ISIS (Mirza et al, 2021). On the other hand, Syria remained the “primary hub in Iran’s power projection in the Levant” (Sullivan, 2014).…”

To (or not to) intervene: social constructivist approach to US humanitarian intervention in Libya and non-intervention in Syria

“…The spread of norms throughout all societies will keep putting political pressure on nations to uphold global norms. However, the more the importance of standards will be diminished the longer carnage occurs in Syria without outside intervention and the longer political and military constraints and goals continue to take precedence over norms (Mirza et al, 2021).…”