Syrian confrontation: internal and external factors (2011-2021). Dolgov B.V.

The book is devoted to the study of the development of the Syrian crisis in 2011-2021. His historical prerequisites are revealed, the internal and foreign policy of the Syrian leadership is considered after the party of the Arabic socialist revival (PASV) came to power. At the same time, various factors of internal and external nature are analyzed in detail that influenced the development of Syrian society in the period under consideration. The book presents in detail the socio-economic and political situation in Syria before the start of the crisis. Based on the official data of the IMF and the works of domestic and Western researchers, the internal situation in Syria is revealed. According to many indicators, it, unlike those in other countries, such as Tunisia and Egypt, where the protest movements of the Arab spring took place, differed for the better and could not cause an acute civil conflict by itself. It is revealed that, despite the presence of certain socio-economic problems, the main reasons for the beginning of the armed confrontation in Syria were the external factor. The work analyzes the goals of the leading NATO countries, including Turkey, and the Monarchies of the Persian Gulf, who used the armed opposition, including its radical forces, to attempts to change the government in Syria and thereby realizing their foreign policy interests in the region. It is confirmed that the actions of external actors, illegitimately present in Syria, were the main reason for such a long continuation of the Syrian crisis. Considerable attention is paid to the role of Russia in the fight against radical Islamism in Syria, as well as the consideration of the new stage of the Syrian crisis and the possibilities of political conflict settlement. The work was written on the basis of a source base and scientific literature of domestic and foreign researchers in English, French and Arabic, as well as the previously published works of the author in the Syrian theme, including two individual and five collective monographs and more than ten articles. The preparation of the book also used the materials received by the author during the repeated visits of Syria after the start of the conflict in 2011-2016, meetings and conversations with members of the Syrian leadership, representatives of the creative intelligentsia, students and teachers of the University of Damas, the media, religious figures, as well as representatives internal and foreign opposition during participation in international conferences and seminars on the Syrian crisis in Syria, Turkey, Germany, France, Sweden, and Greece.