Conflict in Syria

Abstract

The paper aims to emphasize on the current Syrian Conflict. This paper deals with the background of the conflict i.e. brief description of the country as well as the outline history of the conflict. Moreover, the conflict parties and issues are discussed in the paper. Furthermore, the conflict with respect to global and regional level is analyzed along with the state level factors. The paper also entails the post intervention strategies in order to deal with the conflict in Syria in an effective & efficient way. Since the start of social protest in the year 2011, Syria is going through a phase of serious social tension. Today, the circumstances in Syria have several characteristics that need to be taken into consideration when determining the dynamics of the uprising, both now and in the future.

Table of Contents

Abstract2

Conflict in Syria4

Introduction4

Background5

Discussion & Analysis7

Minorities8

Government10

Regional Impacts11

Solutions & Recommendations14

Conflict in Syria

Introduction

Syria is going through a very turbulent period with the growth of revolts against the government of Bashar al-Assad. Even with the sanctions imposed by the UN, the Syrian president will not relinquish the power and escalating violence that is increasing every day. Since the beginning of social protest in March 2011, Syria is going through a time of serious social tension (Fisher, 2011). The majority of the population corresponds to the Sunni division of Islam which covers about 90% of the Islamic world. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad belongs to the Alawite Islamic sect, a branch of the Shiites. The Alawites can be considered as the economic and political elite of Syria, but also have a privileged position in the military. The Syrian government is backed by Iran, Shiite-majority country and is reportedly opponent of Western geopolitical dominance in the region. Currently the country is governed by a kind of cartel formed by entrepreneurs and government supporters. Some policy reforms have been undertaken in recent years, but not enough to prevent the demonstrations of civilians that began in the city of Deraa in the south and spread throughout the country. Violence increased greatly, and UN data indicate at least 10,000 deaths in one year of conflict (Abboud, 2010).

At the end of April 2011, the government ended the state of emergency that prevailed in the country for 38 years. After the projection of international crisis, the Syrian leader tried to convince the UN that actions against protesters were not intense, different from the information that the rebels and the opposition in exile exposed to the international community. UN and the Arab League sought diplomatic solutions and negotiated a cease-fire that was apparently not practiced. The bombing against rebel pockets of resistance remain constant. The defections of Syrian soldiers started helping opponents, who want to create a transitional government council. The main targets of the rebels are the symbols of government power such as police and courts. The cities of Aleppo (the most populous and important) and the capital Damascus concentrate most of the clashes. The number of refugees has grown to over 250 000 ...