Syria’s Political History and Syria–Iran Relations in the Context of the Arab Spring (2011–2023)

This study examines Syria–Iran relations during the Syrian Civil War within a theoretically grounded analytical framework, focusing specifically on their military, economic, and cultural dimensions. Moving beyond a simple narrative of events, the article argues that the trajectory of bilateral relations is shaped not only by wartime conditions but also by the long-standing structural characteristics of the modern Syrian state. The Syrian Civil War is therefore conceptualized as a critical juncture that both reveals and reconfigures the underlying patterns of Syria–Iran relations. Despite the authoritarian nature of both regimes, the study demonstrates that their foreign policy behavior is institutionalized, adaptable, and strategically pragmatic. Accordingly, the military, political, and infrastructural support provided to Syria during the war extends beyond centralized state structures, indicating the existence of a complex, multi-actor and multi-channel network. Methodologically, the study adopts a neorealist framework that highlights alliance formation, balance of power dynamics, and regime security as key explanatory variables. The analysis adopts a regional perspective focusing on interstate relations, while incorporating a macro-level global outlook through geopolitical positioning and employs a qualitative content analysis method. The findings contribute to the literature by highlighting the interaction between structural constraints and actor agency in shaping alliance behavior, providing a more nuanced analysis of multilayered cooperation during protracted warfare.