Abstract
This chapter examines the interaction between the Syrian conflict and the regional struggle for power. It first examines the regional systemic structures in which the struggle for Syria took place. It analyses how the relation between geo-politics and identity shaped the distinctive dynamics of the regional system: how specifically, has sectarianism affected the practices of the regional system and how does the systemic structure – the realist rules of anarchic systems – affect sectarianism? The chapter then traces the evolution of the regional power struggle from the 2000s, identifying the structural forces working for and against sectarianization. It then looks at agency, examining the Syria policies of the major actors intervening in the Syrian conflict, how these affected the struggle for Syria and especially how far their strategies and practices were sectarianizing. It then summarizes how the regional system impacted on the struggle for Syria and how the latter was a factor in the regional power struggle.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Sectarianism and Civil War in Syria |
| Editors | Raymond Hinnebusch, Morten Valbjørn |
| Place of Publication | London and New York |
| Publisher | Routledge Taylor & Francis Group |
| Chapter | 4 |
| Pages | 101-129 |
| Number of pages | 28 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 978‑1‑003‑55772‑2 |
| ISBN (Print) | 978‑1‑032‑90379‑8 |
| Publication status | Published - 14 Apr 2025 |
Keywords
- Syria
- Regional System
- Sectarianization