Internal Conflicts and Protracted Crisis in Syria

The Syrian uprising is an ongoing, violent internal conflict in Syria. It is part of the wider Arab Spring, a wave of upheaval throughout the Arab World. Public demonstrations across Syria began on 26 January 2011 and developed into a nationwide uprising. Protesters demanded the resignation of President Bashar al-Assad, the overthrow of his government, and an end to nearly five decades of Baath Party rule. However, the uprising has been protracted beyond some expectations, not producing the change of regime but resulting in large casualties This paper aims at examining why the conflicts have been protracted. This research assumes that internal conflicts or fragmentation has been one of the most important factors behind the protracted Syrian crisis. The uprising has sectarian undertones. The opposition is dominated by Sunni Muslims, whereas the leading government figures are Alawites, affiliated with Shia Islam. As a result, the opposition is winning support from the Sunni Muslim states, whereas the government is publicly supported by the Shia and other minority religious and ethnic groups. In an attempt to explore the divisions and fragmentations of the Syrian opposition, this study has examined the ethnic, factional, and sectarian composition of Syria and the activities and goals of main opposition groups. Furthermore, this research has conducted a field research to forecast the prospect of the Syrian crisis. According to the interview results, most Arab scholars and citizens believe that the Bashar regime has lost its legitimacy in the course of the prolonged nationwide protest and would not be survived in spite of the internal conflicts and fragmentation of the opposition forces.