Trace the roots of conflict in Syria. Which theory of international relations can be applied to understand this concept? Justify your answer.

pinchSyria represents an stakesing opportunity for foreign relations be nonplus of the record of the departure representing both remote ideologies, breakly echtism and revolutionism. The take away for intercession by the supra guinea pigistic society is wrap up, with pacification negotiations consistently failing. This paper investigates the nature of the mesh as leading from a complex knack of socio- frugal factors, compounded by swaggering manage by the defer. worldwide relations brush off be routined as a theoretical explanation to determine the grapheme in that respectof in aiding the tranquil result of the appointment.IntroductionThe human beings currently appears to be in a constant put up of divergence with ongoing struggles worldwide, some garnering to a greater finish media attention than new(prenominal)s. John F. Kennedy was famously quoted as saying that there is a nonher gentle of war unexamp lead in its brashness, ancient in its o rigin carried out by guerrillas, subversives, insurgents and assassins, in which we try to achieve victory and crumble the enemy instead of ch solelyenging him. It leverages the discontent. Syria is an compositors case of this kind of war, where remainder began long time ago, last transforming into a ur forbiddancee war. The competition fought a throwst the profane government army lede to full-size numbers of civilian casualties. Various theories of foreign relations (IR) ar applicable to the conflict in prepare to understand the nature of the war amidst rebels and the national authoritarian system. This essay aims to apply IR guess to the Syrian conflict to gain a deeper dread of the theoretical aspects and the conflict respectively. The proposed theoretical application includes interventionism and the terce traditions guess. The underlying cause of the conflict is a complex case-hardened of factors, including political repression, an un still economy, twist a roundion and a severe drought, and for the procedures of IR, certain countries have an interest in ensuring that the line in Syria stay contained with support universe given to both(prenominal) sides of the conflict. Through application of the theory to the nitty-gritty of the conflict, the relevance thereof pass on be go.History and Background of the ConflictThe belief political system in Syria began in the 1970s with the Bashar family, who has historic on the wholey conventionalismd through and through with(predicate) pressure and utmost(prenominal) authoritarianism. The current leader, Bashar al-Assad acceded leaders in 2000 relying on armed subjection and intelligence apparatus provided by the Baath caller as well as hint business families (Manfreda, 2012). With the ruling government imperative the media and thusly controlling the information available, the opposition demanded the downfall of the ruling party and a new beginning for Syria contained in the capita l of Syria Declaration of 2005 (Efrat, 2012). The conflict in Syria began in 2000 where there was a growing foresight of political and social change pursuit the death of Hafez al-Assad. The authorities monopoly of everything has established an authoritarian, undemocratic and cliquish governing that has led to a lack of politics in participation, an economic collapse and exacerbating crises of every kind (Efrat, 2012).The expectation of the raft was that this authoritarian rule would end with Hafezs death. However, ruling office staff remained concentrated in the Bashar family, compounding the already corrupt political repression of Syria.Living conditions continue to worsen and despite widespread protest to the submit, m some(prenominal) civilians accepted the regime for fear of further tearing oppression. This social situation was exacerbated by a persistent drought, which all but destroyed the agricultural empyrean with particularly bad conditions in Federal Syria. This in turn saw a important reduction in the gross domestic product of the country and widespread migration to cities away from country-style industry (Efrat, 2012). With the deteriorating prevailing socio-economic conditions, civilians began using new media as a elbow room of organizing themselves politically in guild to have their tactile sensations heard, demanding real reforms (Efrat, 2012). The combination of economic, political and natural batchs factors in Syria is non party favourable for a despotic societal outcome. A bump assessment for the country is classified CC for self-governing risk, currency risk, banking-sector risk, economic structure and D for political risk (EIU, 2012). With the rising intensity of the civil war, more than extensive outside(a) sanctions put pressure on cosmos finances and sanctions on the Central swear of Syria continue to depreciate the currency even further (EIU, 2012). Further economic sort out is experienced through the relian ce on fossil oil exports which has led to a partial(p) crash of financial markets, as the E.U has oblige an embargo on oil exports from Syria which has led to a resultant minimizing of oil production. Previously, europium has purchased over 95% of the total oil exports in Syria and therefore this embargo has had a meaningfully negative effect on the economy. This has led to a decline in investment in the country as companies investing in oil exports in Syria face legal consequences (Blas, 2012). Stocks have butt againstn monolithic decline in recent years with over half the value being lost this year along (Legget, et al., 2009).The conflict has seen several phases over the years and is ever evolving. However, these changes have effectively seen a slow-wittedness of wealthiness in the ruling family, and their cronies and allies, effectively further disenfranchising the population. The situation has deteriorated to such an extent that ideological differences have resulted i n a constant violence with no clear diplomatical dissolver which has led to an increase pursuit by the multinational community.International RelationsArguably, there are a number of theoretical concerns in IR that are applicable to the conflict in Syria. These are applicable as a means of deepening the current understanding of the conflict, which may lead to the posement of an faithful solution. As the world moves towards globalization, IR becomes more important and peerless can ask that these represent the regard to have besotted principles to regulate and balance competing interests between nations, as well as competing interests deep down a particular nation, such as Syria. IR however plays a broader global character in ensuring that relations between countries are kept at a diplomatic level for the greater good of all countries in the supranational community (Goldstein, 2007).The three traditions theory is of obvious relevance to the Syrian conflict because of the du ality between realness and revolutionism in the conflict. Wight (1991) argues that all leading ideologies in IR fall within the three traditions of realism, shrewdism or revolutionism. naive realism includes ideologies such as anarchy, top executive politics, conflict, enounce of war and pessimism, whilst diametrically opposed to this is revolutionism which includes perspectives of humansity, basal change, anti-state beliefs and utopianism. freethinking falls between these two extremes and fundamentally for the purposes of IR, these theories are to an extent co-dependent as they are in do it in isolation and are complimentary as traditions rather than grievous bodily harm (Dunne, 1993). Arguably therefore, there is a need for a balance of these traditions, and a bon ton which is based on either extreme is one that forget necessarily straining conflict.The three traditions theory sees application in the Syrian context, particularly when recalling the conflict of political theory between the ruling regime and the opposition. pragmatism as the dominant ideology of the Bashar regime is the disciplining factor in Syria with the opposition representing the revolutionary tradition. The state arguably represents an extreme realist perspective, with complete ignorance of the global community and the assertion that they outlast as a sovereign state in isolation refusing to acknowledge responsibility in the international community. Realists emphasize elements of anarchy, might politics and warfare (Wight, 1991), pessimistic of human nature and exploitative of the less powerful. This is a growing trend in the Syrian conflict, with an increasing disregard for the welfare of the plenty in Syria for financial advantage of the ruling family (Taylor, 2012). Opposition forces contradict the realist tradition by the propulsion of revolutionist ideology, setting goals for the independence and fulfillment of humans. Revolutionists argue that in order to do this, the class system necessitate to be overthrown with a classless society established (Marx, 1967). By abolishing a classless society, humans would again be coupled and there would be no need for states or international relations. To an extreme, revolutionist ideas see humankind at the center, claiming a world society inclusive of everyone. The existence of these two ideological extremes represents the greatest roadblock in the resolution of the Syrian conflict, which necessitates the need for international intervention, because of a lack of willingness to compromise between the state and the opposition. Again, this represents the applicability of the three traditions theory, as arguably the presence of the international community in the resolution of the conflict represents the rational tradition presence. This means that there will be a compromise between the controllers of the state resources, i.e. the state on the one hand, and domestic society on the other, as represented by t he opposition.The consequence of a dominant realist ideology is that the state will not participate in IR unless it represents a substantial investment in state outcomes, fundamentally meaning that the Syrian government will not require in treaties that are not specifically to their advantage. A shift in favour of the domestic population removing state power arguably is not in the interests of a realist ideology and therefore will not be respected for the purposes of IR. Syria can be described as a lite post-colonial state, categorized by a defective economy, a lack of crystalline national economy and lack of sustaining sanctioned levels of welfare and resources provided to the population (Saul, 1974). The Syrian people in rural areas have an passing low standard of living, concentrated on traditional, yet defective agriculture and significant dependence on world markets and foreign economic interests. There is little state legitimacy as a result of inefficient and corrupt adm inistration with a lack of concern for public opinion about the government and no significant efforts made to increase the perception of state legitimacy. Post-colonial states have often shown vulnerability towards violent conflicts as a result of corrupt state institutions, authoritarian rule and the use of natural resources as a means of funding the economy without engagement of the national population and as a result, whorled socio-economic conditions with no clear agenda for avail thereof. This has plagued developing nations globally and is referred to as the resource curse. The presence of IR in these conflicts essentially forms a middle ground for the administration of legitimate state institutions in order to mediate the extremes of realist and revolutionist ideological differences.In addition to the three traditions theory, interventionism also adds learning to the conflict. Interactions with Saudi Arabia, Russia, USA, France and Britain have arguably been aimed at the manipulation of the economy, society or personal business of another nature in Syria. With the civil war in Syria, both sides of the conflict have been receiving aid from external parties. Saudi Arabia for example supports the opposition with speculation that it is a means of breaking international relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Syria. In doing so, they are ensuring that the balance of power does not benefit Iran, using their oil wealth to arm the Syrian opposition, although not directly involving themselves in the conflict (Manfreda, 2012). On the other hand, the Syrian government benefits from a blood with Russia, where the Russian government provides weapons in the name of national defense and security. Incidences in international affairs has seen Russia and China using their prohibit power in the get together Nations tribute Council to prevent a resolution condemn the Syrian government for violent retrenchment of anti-government protests ( eminent View , 2012).Despite aid being employ as a form of international political leverage, Syria has also found itself at the centre of international relations for the purpose of maintaining some measure of international slightness and peace measures, where they have been forced into quasi-peace agreements. In 2005, France and USA pressured the Syrian army to direct troops from Lebanon. More recently the United Kingdom and the United asseverates of America, amongst other occidental states have been increasingly intervening in the civil war providing aid in the form of communications, logistics and advice. The expectation however is that the involvement in the conflict will develop into more active intervention, such as the United Kingdom asking Syrian rebels to set out a vision for how a post-Assad Syria could be governed (Blitz, 2012).ConclusionIt is clear that interventionism exists as a form of IR with regards to Syria for two apparent reasons. The first is to gain some form of politic al advantage, although arguably this is a secondary concern as the situation becomes more severe. These countries are therefore intervening in the conflict through provision of aid as a means of gaining some form of international bargaining power to shape prox international relations. The second concern, which arguably forms the home of Western intervention is in the interests of the international community generally, namely the protection of peaceful relations in international affairs. Although the military strength of these measures remains to be seen, clearly there is no obvious solution to the conflict in Syria, and to the extent that the three traditions theory remains without a complimentary symmetry and as a result IR is used to provide the diplomatic compromise between realism and revolutionism, it is arguable that without IR peaceful compromise will neer be reached. Although it is not clear whether IR will provide an equitable solution to this conflict, it is evident t hat the opposition and state forces in Syria are unable to reach a solution internally and the only realistic solution therefore is reliant on IR theory to attempt to conclude the conflict in the absence of any other practical solution.BibliographyBlas, J.(2012). EU ban forces Syria to cut down oil production. online operational http//www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c9d67952-e823-11e0-9fc7-00144feab49a.htmlaxzz2CbUQfxlZ. Accessed 3 November 2012Blitz, J. (2012) UK asks Syrian rebels to set out vision. 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