Syria: Battleground of ‘Power, Politics and Economics’

Abstract

This study explores the Syrian conflict’s transformation into a prolonged proxy war, highlighting the interplay between internal vulnerabilities and external interventions, with three dimensions: power, politics, and economics and addressing a critical research gap in understanding the nexus of authoritarian governance, sectarian divides, and international intervention. The study uses a qualitative approach, which analyses academic research, policy reports, credible news sources, and conflict data. The findings indicate that the Assad regime’s sectarian patronage system and elite-focused economic model fuelled dissent, while foreign powers exacerbated the conflict through competing agendas. Syria’s war has claimed over 400,000 lives, displaced millions, shrunk GDP by 60 percent, and caused infrastructure losses estimated at USD 1.2 trillion. The study underscores the necessity for inclusive political processes, equitable economic reforms, and decentralised government to achieve sustainable peace and progress. It contributes to the discourse on proxy warfare and global rivalry, offering insights into the complexities of internal collapse compounded by international competition.