Leiden University Student Repository

Al-Rashdi, Aishaa (2014)

Fomenting a Sectarian Crisis? Bashar Al-assad’s Reforms of 2000s and their Impact on the 2011 Syrian Uprising

Master thesis | Middle Eastern Studies (MA)

In the context of the current 2011 uprising across the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region, the Syrian conflict is the only one that has been described by different media, academic analysts and even some politicians as a sectarian struggle. This paper questions the accuracy of this assumption by raising doubts regarding the fair distribution of power and resources within Syria during the period of Bashar Al-assad’s rule, and suggesting that this may be the main reason behind the 2011 uprising. I study the reforms introduced in the year 2000 and later by Bashar Al-assad and argue that the 2011 struggle over power in Syria results not from sectarianism, but from different economic and political variables. The situation exploded in March 2011 in reaction to the limitations and restrictions on the economic and constitutional reforms instituted during the time of Bashar’s rule from late 2000 up to 2012.

sectarianism

Arab Spring

Bashar Al-assad

Author

Al-Rashdi, Aishaa

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

MA

Supervisors

Batmanghelichi, Kristin Soraya

ECTS Credits

7

Language

en