Fırtınayı Atlatmak: Kriz Zamanlarında Beşar Esad Yönetiminde Suriye Dış Politikası

Year 2023, , 385 - 398, 25.10.2023

Nuri Salık

https://doi.org/10.51290/dpusbe.1350488

Abstract

Bu makale, Beşar Esad yönetiminde Suriye’nin karşılaştığı üç kriz dönemindeki dış politika davranışlarını analiz etmektedir: ABD’nin 2003 Irak işgali, Suriye’nin 2005’te Lübnan’dan çekilmesi ve 2011’de Arap Baharının patlak vermesi. Beşar Esad’ın 2000 yılında iktidara gelmesinin ardından karşı karşıya kaldığı bu üç kriz sırasıyla uluslararası, bölgesel ve iç ortamlardan kaynaklanmaktadır. Makale, kriz zamanlarında Suriye’nin dış politika eylemlerini dış faktörlerden ziyade öncelikli olarak Baas rejiminin güvenlik ve beka kaygılarının şekillendirdiğini öne sürmektedir. Makalede, Baas rejiminin varlığını ciddi anlamda tehdit eden bu krizlere rağmen Suriye’nin zayıf bir devlet olarak dış politika stratejileri sayesinde ayakta kalabildiğine işaret edilmiştir. Bu bağlamda, makale Esad’ın ittifak siyasetinin Suriye’nin zayıf bir devlet olarak iç ve dış tehditlere karşı ayakta kalmasına yardım ettiğinin altını çizmektedir.

Keywords

Suriye, Beşar Esad, Arap Baharı, Lübnan Krizi, Irak Savaşı

Weathering the Storm: Syrian Foreign Policy Under Bashar Al-Assad in Times Of Crises

Abstract

This article analyzes foreign policy behaviors of Syria under Bashar al-Assad in times of three crises: the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, Syria’s withdrawal from Lebanon in 2005 and the outbreak of Arab Spring in 2011. These three crises, which Bashar al-Assad has faced since he rose to power in 2000, have stemmed from international, regional, domestic environments respectively. The article posits that the Baath regime’s security and survival concerns rather than external factors have primarily shaped Syrian foreign policy conducts in times of crises. In the article, it is pointed out that Syria as a weak state has been able to survive these crises that seriously threatened the very existence of the Baath regime thanks to its foreign policy strategies. In this context, the article underlines that President Assad’s alignment policy helped Syria as a weak state survive despite domestic and external threats.

Keywords

Syria, Bashar al-Assad, Arab Spring, Lebanon Crisis, Iraq War

References

• Ajami, F. (2012). The Syrian rebellion. Stanford, California: Hoover Institution Press.
• Barnard, A. & Mourtada, H. (2013, April 30). Leader of Hezbollah warns it is ready to come to Syria’s aid. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/01/world/middleeast/nasrallah-warns-that-hezbollah-is-ready-to-come-to-syrias-aid.html?_r=1&.
• Bjøl, E. (1971). The Small State in international politics. In august Schou and Arne Olav Brundtland (Eds.), Small States in International Relations (pp. 29-37). Stockholm: Almqvist&Wiksell.
• Calabrese, J. (2013). China and the Arab Awakening: The cost of doing business. China Report. 49(5), 5-23.
• David, S. R. (1991). Explaining third world alignment. World Politics, 43(2), 233-256.
• Funton, W, Holliday, J. & Wyer, S. (2013). Iranian Strategy in Syria. Retrieved from Institute for the Study of War website: https://www.understandingwar.org/sites/default/files/IranianStrategyinSyria-1MAY.pdf.
• Handel, M. (2016). Weak States in the International System. New York: Routledge.
• Hinnebusch, R. (2006a). The Iraq war and international relations: Implications for small states. Cambridge Review of International Affairs, 19(3), 451-453.
• Hinnebusch, R. (2006b). Syria: Defying the hegemon. In Rick Fawn and Raymond Hinnebusch (Eds.), The Iraq War: Causes and Consequences (pp. 129-142). London: Lynne Rienner Publishers.
• Hinnebusch, R. (2009). Syrian foreign policy under Bashar al-Asad. Ortadoğu Etütleri, 1(1), 7-26.
• Iran and Hezbollah build militia networks in Syria, officials say. (2013, February 12). The Guardian, Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/feb/12/iran-hezbollah-milita-networks-syria
• Joya, A. (2012). Syria and the Arab Spring: The evolution of the conflict and the role of the domestic and external factors. Ortadoğu Etütleri, 4(1), 27-52.
• Kandil, H. (2008). The Challenge of restructuring: Syrian Foreign Policy. In Bahgat Korany and Ali E. Hillal Dessouki (Eds.), The foreign policies of Arab States: The Challenge of Globalization (pp. 421-456). Cairo: The American University in Cairo Press.
• Lawson, F. H. (2007). Syria’s Relations with Iran: Managing the dilemmas of alliance. Middle East Journal, 61(1), 29-47.
• Lawson, F. H. (2009). The Beginning of a beautiful friendship: Syrian-Turkish Relations since 1998. In Fred H. Lawson (Ed.), Demystifying Syria (pp. 180-205). London: SOAS Middle East Institute.
• Lesch, D. W. (2005). The New Lion of Damascus: Bashar al-Asad and Modern Syria. New Haven & London: Yale University Press.
• Lesch, D. W. (2012a). Syria: The Fall of House of Assad. New Haven & London: Yale University Press.
• Lesch, D. W. (2012b). The Arab spring - and winter - in Syria. Global Change, Peace & Security: formerly Pacifica Review: Peace, Security & Global Change, 23(3), 421-426.
• Leverett, F. (2005). Inheriting Syria: Bashar's trial by fire. Washington D.C.: Brookings Institution.
• Miller, B. (2009). Between the Revisionist and the Frontier State: Regional Variations in State War Propensity. Review of International Studies, 35, 85-119.
• Rubin, B. (2007). The Truth about Syria. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
• Sallouk, B. F. (2009). Demystifying Syrian Foreign Policy under Bashar al-Asad. In Fred H. Lawson (Ed.), Demystifying Syria (pp. 159-179). London: SOAS Middle East Institute.
• Spyer, J. (2013). Fragmented Syria: The Balance of forces as of late 2013. Middle East Review of International Affairs, 17(3), 9-18.
• Sunnis v Shias, here and there. (2013, June 29). The Economist, Retrieved from http://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21580162-sectarian-rivalry-reverberating-region-making-many-muslims
• Surk, B. (2014, May 19). Death toll in Syria’s war tops 160,000, activists say. The Washington Times, Retrieved from http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/may/19/death-toll-syrias-war-tops-160000-activists-say/
• Syrian Army Colonel Defects forms Free Syrian Army. (2011, August 1). Asharq Al-Awsat, Retrieved from http://www.aawsat.net/2011/08/article55245595
• Syria in civil war, U.N. official says. (2012, June 12). Reuters, Retrieved from http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/12/us-syria-idUSBRE85B0DZ20120612
• Syria Opposition Agrees to United Coalition. (2012, November 11). Al Jazeera, Retrieved from http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/11/2012111022432481597.html
• Syria’s rebels unite to oust Assad and push for democracy. (2011, October 2). The Guardian, Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/oct/02/syria-rebels-assad-national-council
• The country formerly known as Syria. (2013, February 23). The Economist, Retrieved from http://www.economist.com/news/briefing/21572198-sectarian-divisions-deepen-war-changing-country-beyond-recognition-country
• UN says Syria conflict is ‘overtly sectarian’. (2012, December 20). Al Jazeera, Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2012/12/20/un-says-syria-conflict-is-overtly-sectarian/
• Walt, S. (1987). The Origins of alliances. Ithaca & London: Cornell University Press.
• Ziadeh, R. (2011). Power and Policy in Syria: Intelligence services, foreign relations and democracy in the modern middle east. London: I.B. Tauris.
• Zisser, E. (2007a). Commanding Syria: Bashar al-Assad and the first years in power. London: I.B. Tauris.
• Zisser, E. (2007b). Syria’s diplomatic comeback: What next. Mediterranean Politics, 14(1), 107-113.
• Zisser, E. (2009). Bashar al-Asad in or out of the new world order. The Washington Quarterly, 28(3), 115-131.