A Resume On The Syrian Civil War

A Resume On The Syrian Civil War
Mallardo – M4 Written Assignment
A prerequisite in understanding the Syrian civil war is to consider which groups are involved. One
of the most debated issue within the conflict is the role of the two largest religious branches within
Islam: Sunni and Shia. In what way are they different in Syria and what are their respective
motivations? Why are they confronting each other and what do they look to achieve?
To understand what is happening in Syria today, it is helpful to look back at the country's history.
Opposition movements started under the Ottoman Empire, with underground groups fighting the
Ottomans for the independence of their country, resulting in a brief period of autonomy in 1920.
After the partition of the Ottoman Empire at the San Remo conference, the country was put under
French mandate with the approval of the League of Nations however revolts continued against the
new rulers. To maintain control, France incited historical sectarian divisions: "during the period of
the French mandate (1920–46), sectarian divisions were deliberately incited in order to suppress
Arab nationalism" (Fildis, 2012). However, the fight against a common enemy brought together
Sunnis, Shias, Alawites, Druzes and Christians Syrians. Eventually, the parties negotiated a Treaty
of Independence. After autonomy, turmoil continued, leading to a series of military coups and
counter–coups. As Mansfield describes: "the men who had led the struggle against the French did
not prove adept at the
... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...

The Political And Humanitarian Crisis
The recent conflict in Syria encompass a series of events that have led to a political and
humanitarian crisis. Since the civilization origins, Syria have suffered invasions, changes and
violence. In the 1900's and after 400 years of Ottoman Empire domain, the Arabs army, supported
by French, entered in Damascus. Emir Feisal was crown as king of Syria but he was forced to
dismiss few months later by French troops. A new France' state have been arisen, and it was divided
in tree separate regions and dominated by two religious groups: the Alawis and the Druze. However,
French faced nationalist's protests and finally Syria gains independence but France still have had the
economic and military control until 1946 when last French troops ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
The new president faced revolts accusing him of conducting the state to an atheist government once
he suppressed the requirement to be Muslim in order to be president; however, the army repealed the
protests.
Another challenge for president Asaad was the war against Israel, supports the Lebanon civil war to
guarantee that the Maronites keep the power, the incentive of protests in places such as; Aleppo,
Homs and Hama by Muslim groups. A member of the Muslim Brotherhood try to assassinate to
Assad creating retaliations by the army. The war between Iraq and Iran erupted and the city of Hama
sight the uprising of the Muslim Brotherhood meanwhile, Israel attack Syrian army and overrun
Lebanon. In 2000, president Hafez al–Assad dies and Bashar, his second son, assume the presidency
and order to liberate 600 political prisoners. Then, Muslim Brotherhood restart its political
movement.
During president George Bush government, Syria was accused of owning massive destruction
weapons and helping runaway Iraqi but the Syrian's government denied those accusations.
Nonetheless, Syria received economic sanctions. The Dead of the former Lebanese Primer Minister
in 2005, Rafic Hariri, generates riots in Lebanon and the United Nations involve Syrian officials.
Western countries isolate Syria, and Israel airstrike a alleged nuclear plant. Islamist groups are
accused of a deathly explosion in Damasco. After years of tension and Isolation, president al– Asaad
meets

Syria During The Middle East
Within the ever–changing landscape of the Middle Eastern Region, Syria is consistently in the news
due to its strategic location and the present set of local and global problems. Located in the
northwest portion of the Middle East, Syria is bordered by Turkey to the north, the Mediterranean
Sea to the west, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest. Mostly composed of Sunni Arabs,
Syria is also the home to a diverse ethnic group that includes Armenians, Assyrians, Kurds, and
Turks. The capital of Syria is Damascus and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the
world (CIA Fact Book). Once a part of the Ottoman Empire, Syria was controlled by France
following World War I until it gained its independence in 1946. ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
There is a wide variety of groups taking part in the conflict ranging from moderate in both the
political and religious realm in the form of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) to much more radical
groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and Al Sham (ISIS). Due to the fundamental differences in
religious ideology as well as tactics, much infighting has occurred between the groups, creating a
two front war with ISIS currently winning both sides. In an effort to take back Syria, Assad and
those forces loyal to him have used brutal tactics on opposing forces to include chemical attacks on
areas believed to be rebel strongholds, killing civilians as well as rebel militants. Meanwhile, the
United States joined with the UN and League of Arabs to impose economic sanctions on Syria.
These economic sanctions coupled with the violence have led to an extreme case of instability in the
region causing oil prices to increase globally. However, with the speed at which ISIS has taken
control over and secured the area from Raqqa, Syria all the way east past the Iraqi border and into
the Al Anbar province, the United States are rethinking its sanctions. The Syrian military is in
possession of chemical weapons. If Assad was to fall to ISIS, what kind of terror could ISIS further
cause to the region if not globally? Many in Washington know we need Assad as an ally in order to
quell not only the rebellion

The Syrian Conflict Of The Middle East
As an Arab I constantly heard other Arabs around me blame every problem big or small in the
Middle East being caused by the Western colonizers that colonized the Arab states in the 20th
century. Now I defiantly don't blame the British and French for all of our problems but indeed they
are the root cause of some of the problems in the Middle East, and their meddling in the current
affairs in the Middle East is adding on to the problems we have and causing new ones erupt. Out of
all the problems in the Middle East the Syrian Conflict is one of the most brutal conflicts, thanks to
the former colonizer of Syria, France. The Syrian Civil war has been one of the most tragic conflicts
in modern times, and in four years has led to the killing of ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
France incorporating the Alawite Majority state of Latakia to Syria in 1936 was another problem
that may have led to the modern day Syrian conflict. Since then France's meddling hasn't relieved
the Syrian conflict, for example France funds the Syrian rebels. France aiding the Syrian rebels is
making the fire that is the Syrian war larger. A combination of historical French medaling and
modern day medaling has inevitably caused the Syrian civil war.
Blaming the colonizers that colonized the Middle East decades ago like the French, who colonized
Syria decades ago doesn't seem logical. It happened years ago, and it is almost similar to saying that
it makes sense for the U.S to blame the British for any problem the U.S currently has. The Syrian
situation is different though, and key French policies during the time of the mandate has caused a lot
of the current day problems. It all begins with one of France's first policy, the political autonomy of
the Alawites. The Alawites were a minority group in Syria and still are, and with the establishment
of the French mandate the Alawites enjoyed many freedoms that they lacked before during the
Ottoman Empire period. French also tried hard to cooperate minority populations such as the
Alawites. "Alawis helped maintain French rule", as mentioned in Daniel Pipes' article The Alawi
Capture of Power in Syria. The Alawites supported the French in return for their new freedoms and
the escape from

The Collapse Of The Ottoman Empire During World War One
Background Following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire during World War One, Britain and
France divided up the former Ottoman territories under the Sykes–Picot Agreement in 1916, which
established French and British colonies, as well as asserted their respective spheres of influence in
the region. The borders drawn under this agreement, however, have caused crippling effects still felt
today; the Syrian territory was comprised of a Sunni majority, and Alawite (a Shi'a sect), Druze and
Kurdish minorities. The present day Syrian Arab Republic emerged from this agreement, and
formally gained independence in 1945. The current Ba'athist Regime came to power in 1963
following a coup d 'etat led by an Alawite minority dominated military, overthrowing the Sunni
majority, Western–oriented, capitalist Sunni majority. Prior to the coup, Alawites utilized the
military as a means of social mobility in an otherwise Sunni dominated state. Dissatisfaction with
the effects of Sykes–Picot, and the puppet regimes of European imperialism that were in place, led
to the Socialist Ba'ath party's nationalist platform. Once in power, the Ba'ath party established state
sponsored capitalism in an effort to take control of the landed elite–dominated agrarian portion of
the economy. Interparty turmoil eventually brought Hafez al–Assad to power in 1970, who ruled
until his death in 2000, when his son, Bashar al–Assad (the current president) took over.
Syrian Crisis: Arab Spring uprising gone awry

The Pros And Cons Of Transforming Iraq
Transforming Iraq and Syria into liberal, democratic, capitalist, and secular nation–states will not be
an easy task. It more than likely will not work at all, based on historical evidence. We will have to
find a way to connect with all kinds of people. People of different religions, backgrounds, and
cultures. The people of Syria and Iraq have not taken to western ideologies well in the past, and I
have trouble believing that they will in the present. There is too much conflict among the people
within each country for me to believe they would easily reform to western ideologies. They cannot
even decide among themselves how to live peacefully.
There have been many attempts to try and westernize Syria and Iraq. In 1917, the French and British
mandated several small states, including Iraq. Britain and France led on Hussein Ibn Ali, making
him believe that the Arabs would gain that land. This was proven to be untrue. When it was shown
that the British and French would rule their way and not fulfill their promises, Hussein created the
Arab Revolt, which fought for the land stolen from them. This was one example of unsuccessful
westernization of Iraq. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Britain and France promised the Turks that they could have the land that they promised to the Arabs.
This caused the Arabs to revolt again, but unfortunately they were too weak to defeat the British and
French and they were repressed (Brower 86). Along with the struggle of repression as a whole, there
were political and social conflicts among the different religious and ethnic groups in each small

Major Religious Factions of Syria Essay
The French's mandate over Syria after World Ware One had an irrevocable impact on the nations's
communal factions. The mandate lasted from 1920–1946 and they begun their rule with
intentionally made sectarian divisions. They were made in order to prevent Arab nationalism and
stifle national independence movements. The divisions were made my religious and national
minority. Granting the minorities independent status locations where they make up the majority. For
example, there was a large population of Alawites in the mountain range behind Latakia, the French
declared them a separate state. The Druze were granted the right and ability to govern themselves in
the city of Jabal, just south of Damascus. The one religious group that did ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
A small faction making up 12% of the Syrian population, were referred to as Nusaryi, a label that
emphasized their religious groups different approach to Islam, were viewed as heretics of the
Islamic religion. During the Ottoman rule, the Nusaryi were the most numerous and poorest of the
peasants. Of the Nusaryi who were fortunate enough to have a job, were most likely worked for the
Sunni Muslim landlords in the mountain region. In 1920, the French changed their named to
Alawite. The term "Alawi" suggested an adherent to Ali, the son in law of Muhammad. This was
done to highlight the similarities to the Shiite branch of Islam. The Alawites thrived more than any
other faction from the French mandate. The villages on the mountain range and bordering city of
Latakia were composed of high amounts of the Alawite faction. The French mandate allowed the
areas the govern themselves and jurisdiction over their own people (Fildis). Because the French
viewed the Alawites in the mountain range area as potentially strong allies, they took exceeding
measures to ensure their support and progress. They introduced schools into the villages, providing
opportunities for large amounts of Alawite children to have an education and a future that leads to
more than being a servant to a Sunni (MacFarquhar). Many Alawites chose to join the military, it
being one of the best outcomes and ways for the Alawites to change their social condition. Over
time, an Alawite military

Kurds Research Paper
Kurds are a group of ethnic Sunni Muslims who form a distinctive community, united through race,
culture, and language, even though they have no standard dialect. Before World War I, the
traditional Kurdish lifestyle was nomadic around sheep and goat herding throughout the
Mesopotamian plains. The collapse of the Ottoman Empire after World War I created a number of
new national states leaving the Kurds no longer free to roam and they were forced to abandon their
seasonal migrations and traditional ways. Today, half of the Kurds live in Turkey, with a fifth in Iraq
and the rest split between Syria, Iran, and Armenia. But since the early 20th century, Kurds have
always wanted a collective home, commonly referred to as Kurdistan. After World War ... Show
more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Similar tensions exist between the Iraqi Government and the Kurds. In the 1920s and 1930s the
Turks put down the Kurds; the Turkish Government deprived them of the Kurdish identity by
outlawing their language and forbidding them to wear traditional Kurdish clothing in cities. The
Government also encouraged immigration of Kurds to the cities to divide the populations in the
mountains. Turkey continues its policy of recognizing the Kurds as a minority.
In 1978, Abdullah Ocalan established a Kurdish workers Party, or PKK, which advocated
independence. It recruited young Kurds, taking advantage of repression of the culture, language, and
poverty to fight a guerilla war against Turkey. Ocalan fought this battle from Syria, but was impelled
by Syrian authorities by pressure from the Turks. He was later arrested in Nairobi in 1999.
ISIS has an ideology of creating one Islamic state breaking down all the boarders that were created
after World War I. Also, there is a particular interest, for these extremists, because they want to use
Kobani as a strategic route to sell their oil through to

The Formation of Arab Nations
The Formation of Arab Nations Much of the modern political Arab world was born at the end of
World War I, as outside powers divided up their shares of territories that were loyal to their regimes.
For example, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon came to exist along side the precarious state of
Palestine. By World War II, these states had begun to want independence, and the following decades
would witness revolution, regime change, violence, and, ultimately, a break from the grips of the
Ottoman Empire and European powers (Provence). Today, the so–called "Arab Spring" uprisings,
ongoing now for several years, are in part as a result of mid–20th–century political rule and
administration by outside powers. In the early 20th century, the ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Perhaps more importantly, Jordan's newest residents were Palestinians who potentially had no
interest in being Jordanian (Anderson). That tension exists to this day, as Jordan continues to host
large numbers of Palestinians (Anderson), as well as Iraqis and Syrians looking to escape instability
in those countries (IRIN).
Jordan continues to serve as the place of escape for Arabs fleeing unstable places. Refugees from
Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and occasionally Egypt, live in Jordan. After the 2003 invasion of
Iraq Jordan took about 100,000 Iraqis seeking temporary escape from the war in their country
(IRIN). Jordan is a strong US ally and they were the second Arab state to sign a peace treaty with
Israel after Egypt. This is an enormously contentious issue in Jordan where about half the residents
are Palestinians who left their country between 1948 and 1967 (Anderson). When Jordan's King
Hussein signed the peace treaty it was a risky move. Jordan has no oil reserves, and the population
tends to be pretty poor. Some Jordanians saw the treaty as an indication of further instability rather
than development. Promises of US aid money and support helped prompt the deal, but Jordanians
understand this agreement means that the US is required to continue support Jordan indefinitely
(Anderson).
Other Arab countries experienced upheaval as well. Iraq, for example, has political boundaries that
include two different and

Syria Essay
Syria is a Middle Eastern country located on the Mediterranean Sea, bordered by Turkey, Iraq,
Jordan, Israel, and Lebanon. To people in the West, Syria is most likely known for violence,
terrorism, and conflict because that is what the media portrays. However, it is one of the oldest
inhabited regions in the world and is rich with culture and history. From Bible references noting,
"The road to Damascus" to Ottoman control in 1516 to Bashar al–Assad taking control in 2000,
Syria has seen periods of peace but has been plagued with many years of instability throughout its
history and especially in recent years. This essay will discuss the events leading to the uprisings, the
current situation, and possible peaceful resolutions.
The state of ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
During this period 75% of farms failed and 86% of livestock died (Manfreda 2017). This caused
nearly 1.5 million farmers and their families to move into slums with no help from Assad or the
government (Manfreda 2017).
The push to overthrow Bashar began on social media by a group called, "Syrian Revolution 2011
against Bashar al–Assad" (Gelvin 2015). The group scheduled a peaceful protest in Damascus on
March 11th to demand the release of political prisoners, which was not successful. A few days later,
10 school children were arrested in Daraa for making statements against the regime. When they
were not released, a large group of protestors took it to the streets in protest. The regime opened fire
and killed several. Protests spread from city to city across Syria, eventually reaching the largest
cities of Damascus and Aleppo (Gelvin 2015). From this moment the situation has spiraled out of
control, turning into a civil war and after international intervention, a proxy war. In 2012, The
United States, Turkey, and other Gulf States showed support for the rebels by sending money for
equipment, arms, and humanitarian relief. In August of 2013, a chemical attack in Damascus killed
almost 1,500. The United States and international community blamed Assad, however, the US did
not take military action as they had initially promised (Beck 2015). On Assad's side, one of the
largest supporters is Russia. Syria is one of Russia's last

Syria Research Paper
Syria, an important and influential country in the Middle East resides on the four corners of Africa,
Asia, and Europe. Syria's history dates back many centuries and covers the multi–highway of
commerce and religion. Both the ancient Silk Road between the Mediterranean and China and the
Pilgrim's Road to Mecca pass routed throughout Syria. Although the country's population is 86%
Muslim, the oldest Semitic language of Aramaic written in parts of the Hebrew Bible is still spoken
today.
Syria's geography includes deserts, plains, a rich coastal region, and mountains. The country's
northwestern corner runs along the Mediterranean Sea for about 100 miles. Two–thirds of the
population live within 75 miles of the Mediterranean Sea in this intensely ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Mostly the attire is stylish, clean and presentable in all urban areas, modest attire is the norm in rural
areas. Muslim women are known to wear "Hijab" (is a veil that covers the head and chest, which is
particularly worn by some Muslim women beyond the age of puberty in the presence of adult males
outside of their immediate family and non–Muslims.). The high rise apartment housing in Lebanese
living will be found in urban areas, urban families have in the country for vacationing. Rural homes
have "maijlis" for visiting areas and large

The Ruins : Syria Past And Present By Christian Sahner
Among the Ruins: Syria Past and Present by Christian Sahner is a narration of Sahner's viewpoints
of the conflicts that besiege Syria today with their accompanying historical basis. He highlights the
effect that this is not just another "Arab Spring" or sectarian brush fire that suddenly appeared but
instead is deeply rooted in cultural tensions that have boiled over. Sahner provides examples of
sectarianism and its impact upon Syria throughout history but also supports his thesis that the
conflict extends beyond sectarianism, which he supports through historical illustrations.
Furthermore, his prolific usage of first–person experience and writing breathes life into historical
notions. One example is Sahner's quote of a Syrian ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The author achieves his goal but also fails in certain aspects. Sahner prefaces the book with the
statement that he will provide an understanding to the rich history of Syria and the multiple sects
that proliferate its landscape. What he fails to do is provide an encompassing view to this landscape
but instead undertakes the executive decision to focus on specific snapshots of Syria's history.
Consequently, he skips almost entirely the later parts of the Islamic Caliphate and subsequent
Ottoman rule that dominated a large part of Syria's history in the second millennium A.D. Overall,
the author weaves a tale that is well written but could have expounded more upon the certain epochs
in Syria's history. Nonetheless, it overwhelmingly succeeds in personifying a culture and country
often dismissed and simplified as "just another tragic, religious conflict".
Sahner does not choose to relate the history of Syria necessarily in a chronological manner but
instead utilizes snapshots of the past to provide backdrop to the present. The main topics that he
utilizes from a historical basis are the second half of the first millennium A.D., rise of the Islamic
Caliphate, as well as the modern period beginning in the mid–nineteenth century A.D. While events
preceding the Islamic Caliphate in the 7th century are briefly touched upon, such as Roman

Taking a Look at Syria
Syria which formerly was called Al Sham or Levant is located in Western Asia. This country has
borders with Turkey to the north Iraq to the east Jordan to the south Israel to the south east and
Lebanon and Mediterranean Sea to the west. Before 1516 Syria was part of Mamluk Empire
centered in Egypt. In 1516 the Ottoman Sultan, Selim, conquered Syria, after defeating the Mamluk
near Aleppo in Northern Syria. After sometimes he changed the whole Syria into one Eyalat named
Sam (Syria). During the course of history the number of Eyalats was growing and in 1877. It had six
provinces which were Aleppo Vilayet, Sanjak of Zor, Beirut Vilayet, Damascus vilaytat,
Mutasarrifate of Mount Lebanon and Mutasarrifate of Jerusalem. Now the modern Syria which was
established after First World War has fourteen governorates or Muhafazat. Each of the governorates
is divided into sixty districts or Mantiqa, which are further divided into sub districts (Nahiya). Every
Nahiya encompasses villages which are considered the smallest administrative unite. Each
governorate is governed by a governor and is appointed by the ministry of interior and must gain the
approval of the cabinet. The capital of the Syria is Damascus, which is located in the south of Syria.
Syria is a diverse country and is consisted of different ethnic groups including Sunni 75% , Kurds 10
to 15% , Alawites (a shia sect) 8 to 15%, Christians 10%, Ismailis, (branch of the shia sect) comprise
a small percentage of the population

The Effect Of The Great War On The Middle East
The Sykes–Picot Agreement, or more commonly known as the Asia Minor Agreement, is one of the
most pivotal events in the history of the Middle East that would alter the very structure of the
region. It continues to negatively impact the countries that were involved due to the decisions made
when it was signed and immediately after. The main purpose of the agreement was the
dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire after it was defeated in World War One . The Middle East
region did offer many advantages to the Western powers for economic benefits, trading routes and
commerce . The Great War was a major turning point for many regions across the European theatre
but especially in the Middle East, the war signalled the end of the Ottoman Empire, a ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
The French representative was Francois–Georges Picot, a professional diplomat with extensive
experience in the Middle Eastern region. The Middle East offered a vast number of opportunities to
the Western countries in particular Britain's interest in the provinces was focused on the protection
of its routes to India. Securing cheap accessible oil for the British Empire's needs and maintaining
the balance of power in the Mediterranean to its own advantage and protecting financial issues were
also their interests in the region. France aimed to preserved its centuries old ties with the Syrian
Catholics, gain a strategic and economic base in the eastern Mediterranean, guarantee a cheap
supply flow of cotton and silk and prevent Arab nationalism from infecting the French north African
empire . All of these goals from both the British and the French were never going to be successful.
With the help of Imperial Russia, the Western representatives divided up the region into specific
French and British administrated areas referring as zones and areas.
From 1920 onwards, the British and the French formalised the control these territories by the
League of Nations Mandate system, and France was assigned the Mandate of Syria which gave
control over modern Lebanon and the port of Alexandretta .The 'Blue Zone' was the area expanding
from the coastal strip of Syria, Lebanon and the

Syria Research Paper
Syria is located in the Middle East and the capital of Syria is Damascus. Although this can be a
diverse region, the official language of Syria is Arabic. Even though the official language is Arabic,
there are many more languages spoke there such as, Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, and Circassian.
The region's population is about 22.5 million people. Syria's largest mountain is Mount Hermon and
the longest river is Euphrates. Syria is also home to Lake Assad, which is the largest lake in Syria
(Operation World). Syria's economy is based on its exports. Syria is known for their oil, petroleum,
and cotton fiber (Operation World). The United States has tried to get ahold of the oil in the Middle
East. During the Gulf War in the Middle East, between 1967 and 1973, the United States sided with
Israel. This led to the oil embargo, where the Arabs refused to sell oil to the United States for a short
time. This led to an energy crisis in the United States (Hobbs, 178). In Syria and much of the Middle
East they also grow a lot of food. Some of their main agriculture is wheat, barley, and cotton (Syria
Facts). Syria has a very fertile plain because it is along the Mediterranean coast which provides
good soil for growing crops. However, over half of Syria ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
Many Biblical stories took place in Damascus, which is the capital of Syria. One of the most famous
places is the Bosra Amphitheater. This impressive theater was built by the Romans in the 2nd
century AD. It can hold up to 15,000 people. It was originally used to watch gladiator matches or
plays. The theatre was built so that everyone in attendance can hear whoever was on stage. Another
famous place to see in Syria is the Water Wheels of Hama. These were used for an ancient irrigation
system and are located by the Orontes River. These wheels were able to move the water through the
aqueducts. Although not all the wheels survived, some of the wheels still work today (Famous

South Africa's Foreign Policy And National Security...
Introduction: In this paper, I will explain South Africa's foreign policy and national security
concerns over the ongoing conflict in Syria. In order to understand how Syria developed into its
current state, I will then provide an overview of the history of the country. The history will begin at
the end of World War I after the fall of the Ottoman Empire and will then continue through French
control and the subsequent uprising. It will then proceed on to World War II, the founding of the
Baath Party, and the joining of the United Arab Republic. As the overview approaches the 21st
century, I will briefly cover the rise of Assad, the war with Israel, and the uprising in Hama. Lastly, I
will cover the Assad succession, tensions with the United States, and on through the nationwide
uprising of 2011. In the next section of this paper, I will cover South Africa's foreign policy
concerns with Syria including statements they have made and their general feelings and opinions of
the ongoing situation. Next, I will elaborate on South Africa's foreign policies regarding Syria. This
section will include what intervention they advocate, their policies on refugees, and their overall
belief of what should be done about the conflict. Finally, the paper will draw to a close with a
conclusion concerning what should be done about the conflict in Syria.
Background to the Problem: The history of the contemporary state now known as Syria began with
The Sykes–Picot Agreement between the French

Defining Kurdish Nationalism In The United States
Defining Kurdish Nationalism There is a grave complexity in defining Kurdish nationalism as it has
developed into modern Middle Eastern countries. Calculating to a population of over 25 million,
they are the largest minority in the world to not have their own state. Their nationalist movement has
remained resilient in three pivot countries: Iran, Iraq, and Turkey. Kurds have been active in the
country of Syria as well, since the 1980's. Kurdish diaspora has existed in western Europe where
long–distance nationalism has been promoted. In the strife for human rights, the Kurds have
suffered as any other people would in the Middle East. They have faced massacre, poison gas, mass
deportation, and linguistic discrimination. The three states that ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
They endure near daily causalities and recently Ankara has undertaken a bifurcated anti–terror
program against the PKK and the IS. Frequent attacks in Turkey by the IS and the PKK has driven
Turkey to kill 260 Kurdish militants as of August 1, 2015. The reasoning for these death tolls within
a week–long air raid in northern Iraq is due to nine civilian causalities in Turkey and Iraq. "For the
peace and security of our people, the fight against terror organi[z]ations will continue without
interruption," as stated by Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. The PKK's rebellion for rights and
power for Turkey's Kurdish minority has been ongoing for the past thirty years and has left tens of
thousands dead. Though a ceasefire was issued in 2013, Turkey's Kurdish militants have sought
refuge in northern Iraq where the PKK has been tolerated and continue to dodge such attacks. The
PKK has been instructed to terminate fire in populated areas. Turkey's president Erdogan hopes to
shut down this "fascist" organization by the end of the year. Turkey's and Iraq's goals are to see the
Kurds and their parties purged from their

Essay on Turkey's Internal Conflict and the Kurdish Minority
Turkey's Internal Conflict and the Kurdish Minority Turkey's key internal conflict centers on the role
of its large Kurdish minority, ethnically and linguistically distinct, in a state that constitutionally
consists of Turks. This issue has been with Turkey almost since the foundation of the Turkish State
in 1923. The Kurds were promised the creation of an independent state as part of the treaty of Sevres
in 1920 but this part of the treaty was never ratified and Turkey has refused to recognize the
existence of a separate Kurdish ethnic community within its borders. Even so, Half of Turkey's
Kurds have moved from the south east to the western cities of Turkey and have increasingly become
integrated into the Turkish economy. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
So when Mustafa Kamal (Ataturk) began to form a Turkish nation state, it was not clear what
constituted a Turk but soon, Kurds were considered as Turks and a policy aiming at the
detribalization and assimilation of the Kurds was adopted... The Turkish government's pursuit of full
assimilation has led to the proscription of publications of any book, newspaper, or other material in
the Kurdish language. Moreover, there has also been an instance of arrests of entertainers for singing
songs or performing in Kurdish. If we look deeply at the government structure, we can see that
historically, Turkey lacks government openness. With the birth of the Turkish republic in 1923, the
Turkish government did not satisfy the demands of the Kurds who were seeking independence. And
since it is more of an authoritarian and closed system, the public opinion did no have any impact on
the government. The non–governmental characteristics of the society as a whole also affect or
condition choices. The Turkish society is the most politically advanced Muslim society of the world:
It has deep Muslim roots that affect its

Power to the Government or Power to the People
Power To The Government Or Power To The People? In Syria, there is a crisis between the common
people and the government in power. The people are rioting because the government failed and
refused to uphold their promises of democratic reform. The Ba'ath government ultimately holds
power over the citizens, however when they lack the responsibility to care for the well–being of
their citizens, those citizens are entitled to a right to overthrow this government. March 15th, 2011
marked the beginning of the Syrian crisis. The conflict began due to a series of riots by the citizens
demanding that the government release certain political prisoners. Although these riots began as
peaceful and nonviolent demonstrations, the Assad government made the decision to respond with
violence. Many troops were ordered to shoot down these civilians and subdue the protests. The
Shabiha, armed state troopers, were a factor in detaining and injuring many innocent protesters. The
government ordered their armies to use force in taking down these nonviolent demonstrations, yet
they have refused to take responsibility for the actions of the army. Bashar al–Assad, the current
president of Syria, has denied various accusations that he is responsible for the killings. Fouad
Ajami, an expert on the Middle East, quoted him stating, "They are military forces that belong to the
government. I don't own them. No government kills its own people unless it is led by a crazy

Syria Is A Unique Middle East Country
Introduction Syria is a unique middle–east country that is one of the major countries and
governments of the world. Its relations with other countries, including the U.S., is also very unique
and helps to define what this country's political stance and views are. This country is also a
dangerous place to live due to the ongoing civil unrest and religious conflicts. The origins and the
history of Syria goes back a long ways. Much of its past consists of war. Ultimately though, that is
what shaped Syria into what it is today. Syria's history, culture, government, economy, and
relationship with the U.S. have made this country very important to the current world affairs.
History Syria's history dates back farther than 3500 B.C. The country emerged from a place called
Sham. Sham included Jordan, Israel, and Lebanon. Throughout the years, it has been ruled by
various groups and Empires such as the Egyptians, the Babylonians, the Assyrians, the Chaldeans,
and the Persians. At one point in time, Syria was also part of Alexander the Great's Empire. It then
fell to the Romans and later, the Byzantines. Finally, the Arab Muslims gained control of the land.
Syria's struggle of power was not over yet because it soon fell to the Ottoman Empire, where it
remained a part of that empire for four hundred years. At last, during World War I, the Syrians
revolted against the Turks with the help of British soldiers and the sons of Sherif Hussein(the leader
of the Hashemites). The Syrians

Lebanese Immigration Policy
As the modern state of Lebanon was formed in 1943, the first Lebanese settlers where referred to as
Ottoman or Syrian as they come from the Ottoman district of Mount Lebanon in the province of
Syria and where rarely called Lebanese even though they came from Mt Lebanon.
At the turn of the 20th century many Lebanese had settled in and around the Sydney suburbs of
Redfern, Waterloo and Surry Hills. As a result of this movement to what is known now as the inner
city. This caused the establishment retail and warehousing businesses and factories which prospered
and provided employment for the newly arrived. Churches and other places of worship soon
followed. An area centered on Elizabeth Street in Redfern became the economic and social hub for
the community. The area became known as Little Syria and later Little Lebanon. ... Show more
The policy required all to pass a dictation test in a language nominated by the immigration officer.
Migrants from Britain and Ireland where favored by the policy and
As Syrian/Lebanese were officially classed as Asiatics this new federal legislation effectively halted
substantial Lebanese immigration until there was some relaxation of the policy in the 1920s.
Various official and social discriminatory practices prevented new arrivals from finding work.
Lebanese Redfern warehousing businesses often gave new arrivals a suitcase of cloth, manchester
and some other goods on credit to get them started. As the migrants did not have English language
skills, and were with little cash or education generally, they where forced to created their own
opportunities when they hit the road as traders of fancy goods in suburban and rural areas
throughout the State.
Small goods like ribbons, material off–cuts, sewing needles and pins, cotton thread, thimbles,
razors, handkerchiefs, underwear and other small items of clothing were

Essay on Lebanon and its main problems
Lebanon
Lebanon is a Middle Eastern country that is delimitated to the west by the Mediterranean and to the
east by the Syro–African Depression. Lebanon borders Syria to the north and to the east, and Israel
in the south.
Lebanon's climate is "Mediterranean"; mild to cool, wet winters, and hot, dry summers.
Some of Lebanon's natural resources are the limestone, salt, water and iron ore. Like any other
country there are natural hazards such as dust storms and sandstorms.
[ Population pressures: growth, urbanization, immigration.
Lebanon's population consists of 3, 777, 218 (this data is from July, 2004)
Age structure: ~ 0–14 years: 26.9% (male 517,356; female 496,888) ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Due to civil war, Lebanon's economy was highly affected, for instance central government
institutions disintegrated. Therefore the estate was handicapped, and accumulated several debts, for
example by 2001 Lebanon had reached $28 billion, or nearly 150% of GDP.
As a matter of fact, economic performance was sluggish in 2000 and 2001 and there was no growth
in 2000.
Lebanon's current program of reforms focuses on three main aspects:
– Economic restoration and "sustainable growth"
– "Fiscal consolidation and structural improvement in public sector finances
– Monetary, financial, and price stability"
The Lebanese pound is firmly pegged to the American dollar since September 1999. Furthermore
Lebanese currency has "undetermined competitiveness, with merchandise exports falling from 23%
of GDP in 1989 to 4% in 2000".
In 2002, the Lebanese government increased gasoline taxes, reduced expenditures, and approved a
"value–added–tax"; all of these became effective in February 2002.
In Lebanon is it hard to finance the government because of the slow money growth and
dollarization, which results in a burden to the 'Central Bank'. Some of the measurements that the
government has put primary emphasis on privatization are: the telecom sector and electricity, Beirut

port, and water utilities. Lebanon's is U.S' fourth largest source of imported goods; the U.S has more
than

Reasons For Arab Nationalism Failed
Arab Nationalism is an ideology which was prominent in the 19th century, as Arab nations began to
gain independence from colonial powers. The foundations of Arab Nationalism are based on the
notions of political, cultural, religious and historical unity amongst Arab nations. One of the
fundamental goals of Arab Nationalism was to see the end of western powers in the Arab region, and
the removal of those Arab governments who were seen too dependent on western power. The rise of
Arab nationalism came with the weakening and defeating of the Ottoman Empire but declined after
the defeat of the Arab armies in the 1967 six–day war. This essay will look at the reasons as to why
Arab Nationalism failed making references to the aims of Arab Nationalism.
In order to see why Arab Nationalism failed it's important to see the start of Arab Nationalism, the
aims and goals and the events that took place. As mentioned Arab Nationalism was an ideology that
rose in the 19th century. Arab Nationalism was a movement that was refuting against the repressive
rule of the Ottoman Empire. When French and British industrialists set eyes on the Middle East, a
diplomatic deal was put in place, the agreement made stated that British and French imperialists
would support the Arabs in their independence in exchange for Arab help in World War I. However
a more recent theory proposed by Adeed Dawisha contends amongst other things that the Arab
revolt against the Ottoman Empire was less to do with Arab

The Conflict Between Syria And Lebanon
Syria and Lebanon are two dramatically different states with a deeply intertwined history. They were
both born out of French interventionism following World War 1, and have experienced complex and
strained relations ever since. The two nations have both experienced prodigious political turmoil
since gaining their independence, with both suffering from civil wars and conflict with their mutual
neighbor, Israel. The war and turmoil that has plagued these two countries can be traced back to
various competing national interests, as well as a struggle for regional power. The various religious
groups in the area have historically formed transnational advocacy networks with the intent of
influencing regional politics. These groups have proved to of been a major factor in the history of
both nations.
With the end of World War One and the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the allied powers in Europe
were left in control of the Ottoman territory in the Middle East. The nation of France was left in
control of the area now known as Syria and Lebanon. The French Mandate of Syria and Lebanon,
which was formalized in 1922, officially made France responsible for creating the two states and
preparing them for self–governance (Kjeilen). By 1943 both nations had achieved their
independence from France, and they agreed to a tentative mutual security agreement. However
relations between the two nations remained strained. While the governments of both nations were
unified in their opposition to

Bashar Al Assad Research Paper
Bashar al Assad's Rise to Power.
Introduction
As seen on television, Syria is in disarray and in the midst of a deadly conflict. This conflict did not
appear out of nowhere. In fact, this Syrian Civil war is the result of a variety of historic and
contemporary factors. In the middle of a grosme civil war, Syria is experiencing consistent
intervention by world powers like the United States of America and Russia, a variety of human
rights abuses and the ever growing threat of islamic extremist in the region. Too many political
scientist and historians Due to foreign intervention, a political power vacuum, religious strafe and
the Arab Spring it isn't surprising to political scientist and historians that all of these factors have
contributed ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
As of which when Hafez met his demise Bashar came outta of nowhere and was installed as the new
leader of Syria. Even though the former dentist had no experience in leading a country he was a sign
of new hope. As time passed it was apparent that Bashar was as cruel if not crueler than his father.
Yet with this spontaneous introduction of power Bashar Al Assad during the Syrian Civil war he
inserted his new found power by starving millions of his own citizens {Alex

Syria's History : The History Of The Country Of Syria
After the events of World War 1, the country of France attained control over the northern portion of
the former Ottoman Empire province of Syria. The area labeled Syria was managed by the French
until granting it independence in the year 1946. Due to Syria being mostly desert it has hot, dry,
sunny summers between the months of June and August while along its coast having mild, rainy
winters between December and February. Syria has a land area of 183,630 square kilometers (sq
km) and a water area of 1,550 sq km (1,295 sq km of this area is Israeli–occupied territory), this
results in Syria having a total area of 185,180. There are five countries that borders the area around
Syria, these countries the area size of their boundaries is "Iraq ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Following his death, Bashar al–ASAD was approved as president by popular referendum in the
same month. Many events have happened since then leading towards the Syrian civil war. On April
of 2005 Syrian troops were withdrawn from Lebanon, where they were stationed at since 1976 in an
ostensible peacekeeping role. Between the months of July and August in 2006 there was conflict
between Israel and Hizballah. During this period, Syria did not intervene directly on behalf of its
ally Hizballah, instead they placed their military forces on alert. On May of the following year
Bashar al–ASAD's had his second term as president approved once again by popular referendum.
Bashar al–ASAD's administration has little lenience for the opposition which lead to nonconformists
often being arrested or tortured and in some occurrence killed. "Assad is a member of Syria's
minority Alawite Muslim sect (division)". This resulted in Alawites having lots of power as they
formed the core of Syria's elite security forces while also being favored over other groups for
government jobs. All this lead to numerous Sunnis (the nation's majority) resenting the Alawite rule.
The Sunnis wanted to remove Assad as president for sectarian reasons and in his place, have a Sunni
as president. "In late 2010 and early 2011, a series of prodemocracy movements began in northern
Africa and the Middle East". Protests and against autocratic rule were common to the

The Conflict Between Israel And Israel
The conflict between the Palestinians (Arabs) and Israelis (Jews) was over land, a place where they
can call home. The ending of World War I (WWI), the land was known as the Palestine land. Three
monotheistic religion called the land the holy land. In 1948 to 1949, the land was divided into three:
the State of Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. The Israelis claim ownership of the land
because in the bible Abraham and his descenders was promise the land. The Palestine claim
ownership of the land due to that fact that they have been living there for hundreds of years. The
Palestine reject the theory of the biblical claims but if they were to entertain the idea, Abraham son
Ishmael, is the forefather of the Arabs which makes the land promised to them too. ... Show more
The Jews wanted a place to call homesince they were spread out all over the world, this idea came
from the movement of Zionism. Due to the imprisonment and murder of Jews, 600,000 Jews
migrated to Palestine. During WWI, Ottoman Empire had sided with Germany and against the
United Kingdom and France. Because European leaders were interested in taking control of the land
the Mediterranean, British high commissioner, Sir Henry McMahon, secretly converse with Husayn
ibn Ali, Ottoman governor of Mecca and Medina. McMahon convinced Husayn to have the Arabs to
revolt against the Ottoman Empire and side with Britain in the war. If the Arabs did the following,
Britain would make sure they would be independent Arab state. The revolt was successful and
Britain took control over the

Continuity And Changes In The Ottoman Empire Essay
The Ottoman had several scenes of decline and each one had marked their history and are linked
with it so I will explain each one. The armistice of 1918 ended the fighting between the Ottoman
Empire and the Allies but didn´t bring stability or peace to the region. The British controlled Syria,
Palestine and Mesopotamia. Stability was badly needed. The Young Turk government led by Enver
Pasha had collapsed while he was leading up the armistice. Across what was left of the empire civil
structure, already badly strained by years of war, began to disintegrate. Law and order broke down
completely in many places. Simmering ethnic and religious tensions erupted into violence a large
numbers of deserters turned to vagabonds. Religion was very important in the Ottoman Empire, and
it had a great influence on various activities done in the empire. Economy and Education were two
of the many things that religion had influence on and impacted. Religion also changed the social
classes and their order. Architecture was completely changed due to the Muslim architects and the
way they put it together. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Economy was greatly influenced by religion in the Ottoman Empire. The Millet System was created.
In this system, non–Muslim people were considered subjects of the empire but weren´t subjects to
the Muslim faith or law. Social classes were based on the religion. The Ottoman Empire was
considered an Islamic empire because its founder was a Muslim. Unlike any other state or empire,
classes were taken by religion. Muslim millets were the highest class society and were treated
equally as the other millets but other religions had to pay more

The Battle Of The Ottoman Empire
The Levant Before WWI started the Ottoman Empire had began losing power in the Middle East. It
lost control over many countries such as Egypt. Its economy began to decline due to competition
from the US and other European countries. Its power begun to weaken and in the beginning of WWI
the Ottoman Empire joined Germany and Austria in fighting against Brittan, France and Russia. The
Ottoman Empire joined the central powers due to their political and economical Influence on
Europe. During this period the British and the French entered into an agreement called the Sykes–
Picot Agreement. The Sykes–Picot Agreement was a plan of what would happen to the Middle East
if the Ottoman Empire were defeated in World War one. The Sykes–Picot was made ... Show more
The mandate system meant that the developed states would make sure that underdeveloped states
would be developed, and catching up with the rest of the world until they were ready for
independence. After WWI France got the territory of Syria and Lebanon and Brittan got the territory
of Israel, Palestine, Jordan and Iraq. The United States left the Europeans to deal with the Middle
East however they always protected their interests, such as protecting their oil interests. The U.S
spoke out against the Armenian Genocide and supported Zionism. After WWII American policies
regarding the Middle East dealt with fighting communism, changing the views that Arabs had of the
U.S, and replace them with a pro–western views and to deal with the Arab–Israel conflict. The U.S
wanted to ensure stable governments in the Middle East and encouraged decolonization.
Syria
During World War I Syria as part of the Ottoman Empire engaged in the murderess of the Christians
as part of the Armenian Genocide. After World War I for a short period of time King Faisal I of the
Hashemite family ruled Syria. However, King Faisal I was removed from Syria and Syria was put
under the French mandate. Syria was able to gain its independence from Franc in 1946. Syria was
involved in the Arab–Israeli war that was trying to prevent Israel form becoming its own
independent country. Ba'athist began to rise in Syria

American Influences on Syria
Syria's Government Syria and America both have very similar governments. There are only a few
assets which makes syrian government Republic and us a Federal Republic. Syria's government has
three branches: legislative, executive and judicial ( Just like America!). The executive branch is
made up of a president, two vice presidents, a prime minister and a cabinet. The president term last
for only 7 years, and the president must be a muslim. The president has the right to name ministers
within the government and declare states of emergency or war. The vice president's job is to take
place of the president if something ever happens. The prime minister is the head of the government
of the Syrian Arab Republic. There are no constitutional limits on a Prime Minister's term. The
cabinet advises the president. Next is the legislative branch. This branch is governed by the People's
Council. This council has 250 members elected for a four year term. The function of the People's
Council include voting for a president, passing laws , discussing government policy, ratification of
treaties, and approving budget and development of plans. Lastly, the Judicial branch. The judiciary,
including the powers to appoint, promote, and transfer judges, is assigned in the Supreme Judicial
Council. Islamic law is strictly followed by the Judicial System. There are three different levels of
courts: courts of first instance, courts of appeals, and the highest court is the constitutional

ISIS: Explored In Syria
ISIS/ISIL in Syria
"The panicked reactions, fanned by right–wing politicians in the United States and Europe, to
'declare war' on the Islamic State are mostly just noise. None of those proposing that kind of
response offer the slightest idea of how it would be done; all they have is an understandable desire,
which we share, to obliterate the terrorist group also known as ISIS," wrote the New York Times
editorial board. Syria fell under a French Mandate after the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire
following World War I, and then struggled to achieve independence. The Assad family used
repressive police state measures to ensure a stable government in Syria. An increase of opposition
caused Bashar al–Assad to inflict more brutality and dictatorship. ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
The United States has performed 8,000+ airstrikes in the past year and Obama says there will be
more to come. A passage of the United Nations Security Council resolution formally authorizing the
use of force against the Islamic State SHOULD be used if France requests it (the New York Times).
The nation and the world would be better off if Congress debated legal framework for the American
military action. Just recently Francois Hollande, the president of Paris, sent fighter jets to strike ISIS
targets in Raqqa, Syria in retaliation to the Paris massacres. THESE are the type of airstrikes the
United States and the rest of the world need to perform, precision bombing airstrikes NOT carpet
bombing airstrikes. Precision bombing is aerial bombing a target with some degree of accuracy
whereas carpet bombing is aerial bombing to inflict damage in every part of a selected area of land.
By carpet bombing, the U.S. and other countries are being hypocrites because they could be killing
innocent people which is what everyone is trying to stop ISIS from

Arab Nationalism and Syria Essay
Description of Country Syria is a country located in the Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean
Sea, between Lebanon and Turkey. The modern nation of Syria did not exist until the 20th century,
although the idea of Syria has been in existence since at least the time of the Prophet Muhammad.
The name "Syria", was first used by the Greeks, historically identifying the region at the eastern end
of the Mediterranean lying between Egypt and Asia Minor. Greater Syria, the larger region (called
this to distinguish it from the nation–state with the same name today), located at the crossroads of
three continents, possesses a long and abounding history. It was an arena of conflict for centuries,
serving as an invasion route for numerous ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In November 1970, Hafiz al–Asad, a member of the Socialist Ba'th Party, seized power in a
bloodless mutiny and brought political stability to the country. In the 1967 Arab–Israeli War, Syria
lost the Golan Heights to Israel. During the 1990's Syria and Israel held occasional peace talks over
its return. Following the death of President al–Asad, his son, Bashar al–Asad, was approved as
president by popular vote in July 2000. Syria is now identified as a republic under an authoritarian,
military–dominated regime. (https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/sy.html) Syria is
has 185,180 square kilometers of land area, including the 1,295 square kilometers of the Golan
Heights occupied since 1967 by Israel, which in 1981 was added on. Syria is comparable in size to
North Dakota, with a population in 18,881, 361. In addition, about 40,000 people live in Golan
Heights – approximately 20,000 Arabs and 20,000 Israeli settlers. Syria has a population growth rate
of 2.3% due to a birth rate of 27.76 births/1,000 people and a death rate of 4.81 deaths/1,000 people
with a sex ratio of 1.05 males to 1 female. Syria is comprised of 90.3% Arabs, Kurds, Armenians,
and other make up fractions of the remaining 9.7%. 74% of the population is Sunni Muslim, 16% is
other Muslim (includes Alawite and Druze), various denominations of Christian make

Strategic Relations Between Saudi Arabia And Iraq
Strategic, cooperative relationships between states in the Middle East have tended to be inconsistent
and volatile – examples being the alliance between Egypt and Syria that coalesced into the short–
lived United Arab Republic in 1958 and the shifting relationships between Saudi Arabia and Iraq . In
fact, in Walt's list of eighteen Middle Eastern regional alliances formed between 1955 and 1979,
none lasted for longer than five years (Walt, 1987, p.150). In light of this heritage, it is therefore
particularly remarkable that the most persistent regional arrangement to–date has been between
Syria, a secular, Arab and predominantly Sunni state and Iran, a Persian, Shia theocracy.
And the relationship has certainly been persistent, with the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
President al–Assad of Syria and his inner circle are Alawites; a religious sect that broke from
mainstream Shi'ism in the 9th century. As a member of a Shia minority running an otherwise
predominantly Sunni state , it would seem natural to look to Iran for support. From Iran's
perspective too, when viewed though this sectarian prism, it would seem to be expedient to support
a nominally Shia regime in order to prevent Syria becoming another member of the regional 'Sunni
camp'. In support of this analysis, Agha and Khalidi claim that "the Shiite–Alawite connection did
play an important part in the development of Syrian–Iranian relations and may in fact be seen as one
of the main motors of the of the emerging alliance between the two countries" (Agha and Khalidi,
1995, p.4). Others extend this idea of a 'sectarian allegiance' further, describing it as part of a 'Shia
Crescent' that encompasses not only Iran and Syria but also post–war Iraq and the increasingly
significant Hezbollah movement in Lebanon. This approach clearly sees religion as a 'key binding
agent' in this regional configuration.
So is this a persuasive analysis? Certainly, sectarianism has played a significant role in the domestic
political history of both nations. In Syria, as Horowitz explains "ethnic politics is defined in
confessional terms" (Horowitz, 2001, p.492) with the Ba'athist coup of 1963 being followed by
purges of Sunnis from the military and civil services until by 1969 "the Alawi were left

Syria Between The And Ottoman Empire
Another specific conflict area that this paper will examine is Syria. The area, today known as Syria,
is in a unique location which has made it subject to many empires, including the Roman and
Ottoman. Since the area has been at the center of history for thousands of years it is home to a
diverse ethnic and religious culture. Currently the country is home to "Kurds, Armenians, Assyrians,
Christians, Druze, Alawite Shia and Arab Sunnis, the last of who make up a majority of the Muslim
population," (BBC). Prior to World War I, the area was under control of the Ottoman Empire, after
the war the empire was broken up and France took control of the area. In 1946, France granted Syria
independence, and the country has been dealing with political instability ever since. From 1958–
1961, Syria joined up with Egypt to create the United Arab Republic. The following years brought
about a succession of upheavals within the government. In the 1960's the Arab–nationalist group,
Baath, took over power, and in 1970 one of their leaders, Hafiz al–ASAD, took control, which
brought about political stability. In 1967 there was a war taking place between Israel and Syria,
which resulted in Israel occupying a southwestern region of the country. In 1970, Syria's neighbor of
Lebanon broke out into civil war and Syria extended their military power into that country. The
Baath government has been known to be a strong authoritative power and has powerful anti–western
policies in place that

The Differences Between The Arab People Of Arabia And...
Culture in Syria With the United States being involved in Iraq and Afghanistan, we as soldiers learn
a completely new type of culture. We also know that in each of the two countries that their way of
living is different from each other even though their religion is same. This is true throughout the
world and that is what makes it hard for one to understand why there cannot be more cohesion
between countries. The same true of Syria. The way they live day to day and worship is different
from either of the other two countries, despite that they are an Islamic country. The Syrian people
are different in the approach to people, economy, government, and cultural life.
Ethnic and Linguistic The people of Syria draw their influence from several origins over a long
period. The Greeks and Romans ethnic influence was negligible. The people of Arabia and
Mesopotamia left their influence on what we see today. Even though the Turks, Greeks, and Romans
influenced the political and economic structures of Syria, they could not change in the dominant
Arab character of the Syrian people. Ninety percent of the population speaks the official language,
which is Arabic. There three other languages that are spoken in the country and they include
Kurdish, Armenian, and Circassian. Some ancient languages are still present today in the country.
They include Maalua, Aramaic, and Syriac, also English and French are used, but that is from
speaking with tourists.
Religion
Religion

Ethnic And Religious Division Of The Lebanese Civil War
In this day and age, we find ourselves at odds with our "identity" as we find that not only are we
representing ourselves, but we also have ties to religion, sect, tribe, and family (Angrist). This shows
that despite the cohesiveness and threads that attach us, it has the power to pull people, families, and
in some cases countries apart. This conflict comes to a head when religion and ethnicity are
interwoven. Hence when divisions occur, this can lead to violent wars that destroy trust between
individuals. This can ingrain a sense of uneasiness and distrust that plagues people's ideas and leaves
a country divided. This is particularly evident in Lebanon. Ethnic and religious division led to the
festering of feelings of marginalization and discrimination, which boiled over into the Lebanese
civil war, a war that claimed the lives of 150,000 people (Szekely). The anger and frustration birthed
from this to chaos, and conflict has in turn increased the division between ethnic and religious
factions and led to the crumbling of Lebanese nationalism. This essay is specifically aimed at
assessing the relationships between ethnic and religious divisions in Lebanon and explores how it
contributed to the civil war. This is done by identifying and analyzing the main actors and makes an
explanation of the historical divisions stemming from the National Pact, branching out to include the
consequences of the civil war on the political structures and the identities of the

An Analysis Of The Syrian Refugee Crisis
Syria went from beaches to bombs. From deserts to disaster. From mountains to machine guns. How
could a nation rip it's own seams out? How could one conflict displace almost 4 million people?
There are two theories as to how the refugee crisis started. Both of them beginning a very long time
ago, as far back as World War 1. Just knowing how the conflict begun is still not enough to offer a
concrete plan to end the crisis. An analysis of the Syrian refugee crisis concludes that although there
are many solutions that could bring ease to the refugees, most would disrupt the nature of other
cultural systems or states and Syria, as it stands today, is relatively young and shaking out the folds
and re–balancing their ideals is to be expected and repeated.
Syria is a country located in the Middle East along the Eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea, in
what once was considered the Ottoman Empire It is bordered by Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, and
Lebanon. Compared to many currently existing countries, Syria is relatively young. However, the
land that the country of Syria exists upon is one of the oldest inhabited places in the world, with
record of human habitation dating back to 700,000 years ago.
The Ottoman Empire was divided by the Allies during World War 1 and that is when the borders of
Syria, as you see it today, came into being. Following World War 1 France was controlling Syria.
The French administration of Syria was carried out through a variety of governments and

Essay about Dangerous Work of Doctors Worldwide
Dr Mehmet Güllüoğlu has been appointed as the new Director General by the TRCS Board of
Directors on 8 December 2013. Dr Güllüoğlu was born in 1982 in Konya. He graduated from
Marmara University Medical Faculty. In 2008 Mehmet Güllüoğlu started to work as project
coordinator for Doctors Worldwide. He also worked for Turkish Health Ministry and Health
Directorate of İstanbul. He is continuing to study at the doctoral program in public health at the
Medical Faculty of Istanbul University. He is married and has two kids. It is known that during his
work in Doctors Worldwide he has met PM Erdoğan. Güllüoğlu has accompanied and briefed
Erdoğan during a visit to Somalia 3. Overview of the National Society o Founded in 1868, it is one
of the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
3. TRCS national activities Regional and local Disaster Response and Logistics Centers (emergency
shelter and feeding capacity for 250'000 persons; psychosocial support, etc). Tent Manufacturing
Center; Blood Centers and Blood Stations ; Medical Centers; Community Centers ; First Aid
Centers ; Soup Kitchen ; Youth Camps ; Student Dormitories ; Nursing Homes ; Afyonkarahisar
Mineral Water Inns. 4. TRCS Strategic Plan 2010–2015 – main aspects 1) to improve and
disseminate the Red Crescent culture (sic), 2) to make perfect the organisational function and
interaction at local, national and international level, 3) to focus on services to provide qualified and
efficient service, 4) to support the sustainability of Turkish Red Crescent humanitarian activities by
carrying out and making efficient income generated and supportive activities compatible with the
mission.Based on the TRCS indicators of these objectives, dissemination of IHL, training of TRCS
staff for international operations, to comply the TRCS international operations with the international
strategies, policies and standards, publishing articles, books, researches on disaster mitigation,
preparedness, response at national and international level could be the areas where ICRC can
cooperate in the future. 5. International Activities – selection In recent years, TRCS has delivered
humanitarian aid to the following contexts : o Pakistan (2005) o

Gabriela Bazzo Syrian Refugees
In the TheWorldPost article Syrian Refugees Living In Brazil Reflect On Their Hopes And
Challenges, Gabriela Bazzo has captured the cultural challenges and hopes that many of the over
8,400 refugees have encountered while reestablishing their lives in Brazil. The Syrian refugees have
faced many obstacles in acculturating to the Brazilian culture. Besides the obvious religious
differences with Brazil being predominantly Catholic in comparison to the Muslim Syrians, the
refugees are also forced to overcome economic challenges, religious bias, cultural differences, and
language obstacles as the majority do not speak or understand Portuguese. Although Brazil is home
to nearly 15 million people of Arab descent with three of those million being ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
While countries like Germany and Sweden host more Syrian refugees, today countries like Hungary
are closing off their borders to more refugees especially those that are Muslim. Due to the 100,000
people that fled from Syria, Lebanon, and other countries to Brazil during the 20th century and the
other immigrants that compose the population, Brazil has a greater cultural relativism than the
European nations (Osborn, "In Brazil, Syrian"). They accept and understand the Syrians' practices in
terms of their culture instead of their own diverse Brazilian culture. On the other hand, Hungary and
Austria show great ethnocentrism as they judge the Syrian's Muslim culture based on their own
Christian principles instead of basing the characterization from the Muslim society. These countries,
like Hungary, are afraid of the Muslim culture and the dangers it imposes on free Europe, basing
their judgments on incidents that occurred centuries ago and in other cultures. Many like Prime
Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary see the Christian values of their country as superior and more
ethical to that of the Muslims, claiming "The people ... grew up in a different religion and represent
a completely different culture. Most are not Christian, but Muslim ... That is important because
Europe and European culture have Christian roots," (Tharoor, "Hungary's Orban Invokes"). The
majority of Hungary's ethnocentrism stems from its history with the Muslim Ottoman Empire rule
over Hungary during the 16th and 17th

A Resume On The Syrian Civil War

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

More from Ashley Davis

More from Ashley Davis (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

A Resume On The Syrian Civil War