FROM THERIOTHORIAL ORDER TO STATEHOOD: Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS)

Abstract

In 2011, the social unrest that erupted in Syria brought about developments with both regional and global implications in a short period of time. Since 1970, the Assad regime, which has been in control of the country, has implemented antidemocratic and repressive practices in order to ensure the control and supervision it wants in the social base. This situation has played a critical role in channeling the social environment in which many different identities living in the same social base into violence with the Arab Spring process. In a short period of time, mass events provided long-awaited opportunities for groups with violent and extremist tendencies. The regional authority vacuum, which started with the United States of America's (US) operation in Iraq in 2003, was attempted to be filled by various local armed actors, especially al-Qaeda. The groups that wanted to use the social dynamism created by the uprisings in their favour either tried to get the support of a global terrorist group or tried to implement a self-governance structure by developing a unique strategy. HTS, which is analysed within the scope of this study, is one of the structures that have found a fertile field for itself in the civil war environment by using these two situations. HTS is currently building its strategy on three fundamental pillars: distancing itself from global organizational ties, localization, and state-building. Having completed the first two stages, the organization is now in the process of acquiring the necessary resources for the final stage.

Keywords

• Terrorism
• Syria
• al-Qaeda
• DAESH
• HTS

Teritoryal Düzenden Devletleşmeye: Heyet Tahrir El-Şam (HTŞ)

Abstract

2011 yılında Suriye’de patlak veren toplumsal olayların hem bölgesel hem de küresel etkileri oldu. 1970 yılından günümüze kadar ülkeyi kontrolü altında tutan Esad rejimi, toplumsal tabanda istediği kontrolü ve denetimi sağlamak için antidemokratik ve baskıcı uygulamaları devreye soktu. Bu durum aynı toplumsal tabanda yaşayan ve çok farklı kimliklerin bulunduğu sosyal ortamın Arab Baharı süreciyle birlikte şiddete kanalize olmasında kritik rol oynadı. Kitlesel olaylar kısa sürede şiddet içeren ve aşırıcı eğilimleri olan grupların uzun süredir beklediği fırsatları sağlamış oldu. Amerika Birleşik Devletleri (ABD)’nin 2003 Irak operasyonuyla başlayan bölgesel otorite boşluğu, el-Kaide başta olmak üzere çeşitli yerel silahlı aktörler tarafından doldurulmaya çalışıldı. Ayaklanmaların oluşturduğu toplumsal dinamizmi kendi lehine kullanmak isteyen gruplar etkin oldukları bölgelerde ya küresel bir terör grubunun desteğini almaya çalıştı ya da kendine özgü bir strateji geliştirerek öz yönetim yapısını uygulamaya çalıştı. Bu çalışma kapsamında ele alınan Heyet Tahrir el Şam (HTŞ) da bu iki durumu kullanarak kendisine iç savaş ortamında verimli alan bulan yapıların başında gelmektedir. HTŞ hali hazırda uygulamaya çalıştığı stratejisini üç temel ayak üzerine inşa etmektedir. Bunlar: Küresel örgüt bağlantılarından ayrışma, yerelleşme ve devletleşme. İlk iki aşamasını tamamlayan örgüt son aşama için ihtiyaç duymuş olduğu donanımı temin etme sürecindedir.

Keywords

• DAEŞ
• el-Kaide
• HTŞ
• Suriye
• Terörizm

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