SJS3- How Syria Fell to Pieces

Source: Abboud, Samer. “How Syria Fell to Pieces.” Current History, vol. 114, no. 776, Dec. 2015, pp. 337-42.


Author: Samer Abboud is an associate professor of international studies at Arcadia University. He is also the author of Syria. He has a doctorate in Arab and Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter.

Summary: Arab uprisings, socioeconomic decline, and political restraint in Syria all lead to an uprising in Syria. This uprising started in Daraa, Syria and within five years of 2011, when it started, the uprising turned into a civil war. Before this developed into a civil war however, it started with protestors in Daraa. These protests against the Syrian's government and its regimes. These quickly spread throughout the country, including to the capital city, Damascus. Protestors started to organize in Local Coordination Committees and The Syrian National Council which brought the uprising to the international level. These protesting group even pushed back regime forces by the pressure of the uprising. The SNC and LCC faced internal crisis though, one example being that the leaders of these groups being exiled out of the country. Despite some international moral support, little was done to help maintain the pressure put on the regimes. This made room for groups like the Islamic Front. The regime in turn started fighting back with local military groups, this eventually formed National Defense Forces. Outside military forces from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq also helped aid Syrian's regime forces. Syria was then split into areas of different control. This split of power has created insecurity and fighting throughout Syria. More than half of Syrians have been killed, displaced, or injured by the fighting. The economy has basically fallen apart because of all the fighting. Although this uprising has made some progress, there is little plan for the future and post-conflict Syria with the protesting groups having power.


Analysis: The author presents all his opinions as facts, and always provides backup facts as well. I agree with everything he says. His main theme throughout the article is that Syria is going through a major conflict that many groups, internal and external are trying to take advantage of.