STRUCTURAL FACTORS

Ethnic geography
As a product of several invasions throughout history, an enormous amount of diverse
ethnical groups has been left out in Syrian territory. Such ethnicities have settled down in
various regions of Syria; this means without mixing themselves up. The Bedouin occupy the
majority of the Syrian territory, being found mainly in the center, east, and zones. The Sunni
are primarily positioned in the west part together with the Alawites, who posses shore areas
that probably benefit them and give them a considerable advantage over the rest of the
ethnicities. Druzes are situated in the southern zone. There are also great groups of Kurds
based in the north of Syria.
This situation creates an atmosphere of vast cultural and religious disparities, which can
sometimes cause conflict between Syria's population. An obvious example of this is the
situation produced when catholic groups moved to muslim areas and segregated themselves
into narrow neighbourhoods where the architecture was more like the medieval Europe than
like the Syrian one.

Historical ethnical differences:

since the Ottoman Empire the country was organized in provinces; the sense of belonging to
a province was stronger than the one of belonging to a Syrian state 1.
Intrastate security concerns:
1st world war: Britain and France against Ottoman Empire, allied with Germany and Austria.
Sykes-Picot Agreement: division of the middle east between France and Britain
An Arab government had formed, but France occupied the Syrian region, that was
recognised as a mandate by the League of Nations, with the aim of preparing the country for
independence.
France instead behaved to stabilize its power in the country
Attempt to create a Christian state in the region of Lebanon, to use
as a safe base future instability
Division in several administrative units (Divide et Impera)
Following reunification and attempt to impose French and
Christianity increase in xenophobia and anti-western feelings
Development of nationalism
INDEPENDENCE:

April 17, 1946

1http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/12/understanding-syria-from-pre-civil-war-topost-assad/281989/

Achieved nationalism was more a feeling than a structured identity, with many different
interpretations, due to the many different communities, beliefs, backgrounds and
experiences of the recent and past history.
Political disorders, weakness rise of Assad regime
Member of minority in power further grievance between parties
Especially Muslim Brotherhood, main opposition of the government.

POLITICAL FACTORS
Discriminatory political factors
Since Hafez al-Assad became president of Syria in 1971, an authoritarian regime was
established in which al-Assad political supporters and ethnic group were favoured over the
other minorities in the country, and Hafez surrounded himself with relatives from his
extended Alawite family. Hafez created a system of coalition between his political party
(Baath) and the minor parties which supported him. No possible enemy could sprout from
this system and he used this method to keep power for almost 30 years until his death in
2000.
After his death, his son Bashar al-Assad came to power in an election in which his rivals
could not run for the presidency, winning with a surprising 92%. Bashar, even if in the
beginning of his mandate he freed many political prisoners, continued the process of
confirmation of the Alawite minority above the others by continuing the Alawite government
of coalition founded by his father.
Timeline: 25 April 1920,the International Conference of San Remo,attributed the SDN
mandate to France upon Syria.
1922 :The French mandate divides the Syrian territory in numerous autonomous states.
1925:Reunification of the whole country again,but the split between the population that
occurred in 1922 increased the disparities and differences between the Syrian population.
1942:The Baath party (resurrection arab party) ,is co-founded by
Michel Aflak and Salah Bittar.It aims for the cretion of an arab nation,through the application
of an arab socialism.This mouvement was inspired by Mounier.
1943:Independance of the country declared.
1963:The Baath party access to power.But the initial essence of the party is lost,since a
military junta took control of the Party.
1970:Hafez El Assad,after the Military coup,access to power.He enforces the authoritarian
regime that was already put in place since 1963.He stays in power until 2000.
2001:New elections,his son Bachar Al Assad is the new president. He was perceived as a
hope to change the country,but as soon he gets effectively to rule the country the
authoritarian methods and means to impose the view of the government are applied again

Inter-group politics:
Conflict is defined in terms of inclusion and exclusion.Its generated by this ingroupoutgroup hostility.This hostility is implemented through the process of categorisation that can
lead to the worst forms of violence,which is deshumanisation.And since Syria is a state that
lacks homogeneity and have a mosaic of ethnic
minorities(Sunni,Kurds,Ismaelites,Christians,Druzes,Alawites and even some
Coptic,Chaldean and Aramaic people).The country was more prone to conflict than other
regions.The domestic conflict that lead to war was related to the type and fairness of the
political system. If groups have opportunities to represent themselves through the political
system,and if the political system does not value a certain group over another then its likely
conflict will lead to direct violence.Unfortunately it wasnt the case in Syria since the
authoritarian system of Bashar Al Assad Syria favoured a particular minority in the country
,the Alawites .When the demonstrations were met with repression,civil war broke
out.Numerous parties within the civil war are against the Alawites,their reasons is
different;for example The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria,fights against the regime because
the president belongs to this faith courant:

Along with other jihadist groups) they do not consider Alawites to be Muslims and advocate
violence against them (unless they convert to Sunni Islam). They use the term "Nusayris" when
referring to Alawites.

Elite politics

The major population in Syria are the Sunni Arabs, other groups are Druze,
Christians, Shia, Alawi, Kurds, etc. The Syrian elites are the Alawites minority who
are ensuring their loyalty to President Assad. (http://countrystudies.us/syria/56.htm).
75% of the population is Sunni Muslims while only 12% are Alawites . One of the
main causes of the conflict is the Syrias ethnic division or as a result of the elite
politics. The Assad government, the nations elites and military belong to the Alawite.
(http://www.iamsyria.org/conflict-background.html) The elites minority can still have
power
because
of
they
are
supported
by
Russia,
Iran.
(http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/10/syrian-civil-war-guideisis/410746/)

Economic/Social Factors:
For many centuries, the Alawis were the weakest, poorest, most rural, most despised, and most
backward people of Syria. In recent years, however, they have transformed themselves into the ruling
elite of Damascus. Now, Alawis dominate the government, hold key military positions, enjoy a
disproportionate share of the educational resources, and are becoming wealthy. Indeed, the
establishment of French rule after World War I benefited the Alawis more than any other community.
French efforts to cooperate with minority populations meant the Alawis gained political autonomy and
escaped Sunni control. Progressively they took power and the climax of it was when Hafez Al-Assad
came to power in 1970 and after his son Bachar. They maintained the islamists down until the starting
of the revolution in 2011.

Economics:
If we are talking about Syrian economy, even though it was poor, Syria had better economy
than most of the countries in Middle East. However, wealth was mostly concentrated around
the political elite due to deep corruption. Most of the major indrustries were held by Assads
cousin.
Syrian most developed areas were oil and agriculture. They exported oil and food, especially
citrus (coastal area), wheat and cotton. Few years before actual conflict, in Syria it looked
like there is revolution of economy, especially with opening of foreign banks in Syria and
foreign investments. But any proper investment went into hands of Assads cousin Rami
Makhlouf. Assad kept benefiting from these.
To certain extent we can say that there was a portion of the conflict influenced by bad
economical situation, because we can see that there was corruption which most probably led
to dissatisfaction between people who were not part of this small group of people who had
privilages.