Abstract
The Syrian Civil War had been raging for more than a decade. Spawned by the Arab Spring, hundreds of thousands have died, and many more have been displaced. This war has also proven to be among the 21st Century’s most geopolitically significant arenas; as the Syrian people split into many factions, the outside world has been gazing on as many regional and global powers have taken sides.
Syria is a diverse land, located in a strategically vital region, with a very long history. Part of the ancient Fertile Crescent, many states, empires, and people groups have made their mark here. Today, the country is home to many ethnic and religious communities. The majority of Syria’s population is Arabic and Sunni Muslim. As war broke out, the Syrian people splintered into factions–allying and fighting one another, merging and dividing. These factions have been, in part, split down ethnic and religious lines. Along with the Sunni Arabs, some of the bigger communities in the news today include the Alawites, the Kurds, and the Druze. The factions that represent them in the war have been supported or opposed by Russia, Iran, Türkiye, the United States, and Israel. As the old Syrian regime has been defeated, it will be up to the new regime, the other factions, and these outside powers to decide what happens next. Will the Syrian Civil War come to a definitive resolution, and if so, how? Or, will the sides fail to find common ground, and plunge back into war?
