Suriye Krizinde Mezhepçiliğin Araçsallaştırılması

Abstract

2011 Suriye kriziyle birlikte Sünni-Şii ayrımı Ortadoğu bölgesindeki siyaset açısından en önemli faktörlerden biri haline gelmiştir. Özellikle Suriye’deki çatışmalarda mezhep gruplarının birbirlerini varoluşsal birer tehdit olarak algılamasıyla krizde zaman zaman mezhepsel bir boyut öne çıkmıştır. Fakat bu dönüşüm, temel olarak mezhepçiliğin tarihsel köklerine dayanmanın ötesinde, liderin ve siyasi elitlerin iktidarın güvenliğini sağlamak için mezhepsel kimlikleri birer araç olarak kullanmasının bir sonucu olarak ortaya çıkmıştır. Bu makale Suriye krizinde mezhepsel araçsallaştırmanın kimler tarafından, nasıl yapıldığını ve bu politikanın çatışmaları ne yönde etkilediğini tartışmaktadır. Makalede Suriye krizinin karmaşık mezhepsel boyutunun primordializm yaklaşımıyla açıklanamayacağı görüşünden hareket edilmektedir. Bu bağlamda primordializm yerine Enstrümantalizm yaklaşımı kullanılarak Beşar Esad yönetiminin mezhepsel kimlikleri iktidarının sürekliliğini sağlamak amacıyla araçsallaştırdığı savı tartışılmaktadır. Bunun için de Suriye’de siyasal iktidarın söylem, eylem ve politikaları incelenerek Suriye krizinde mezhepçiliğin nasıl araçsallaştırıldığı açıklanmaktadır. Suriye krizinde mezhepçiliğin araçsallaştırılması politikasının Esad’ın çatışmaları kendi lehine çevirmesinde ve varlığını korumasında önemli bir yere sahip olduğu görülmektedir. Öte yandan bu politikanın birçok olumsuz sonucu olduğu ve tehlikeli bir süreci beraberinde getirdiği de göz ardı edilmemelidir. Mezhepçiliği araçsallaştırma politikası, toplumun kimlik çizgilerine göre bölünmesi, mezhep grupları arasındaki hoşgörünün ortadan kalkması ve Ortadoğu bölgesinde kimlik temelli düşmanlıkların ortaya çıkması gibi nesilleri etkileyecek sorunlara yol açmıştır. Bu da mezhepçiliğin araçsallaştırılmasının kısa vadede avantaj sağlayan bir politika olmasına rağmen uzun vadede büyük sorunlar yaratacağını göstermektedir.

Keywords

• Suriye
• Mezhepçilik
• Enstrümantalizm
• Primordializm
• Araçsallaştırma

Instrumantalisation of Sectarianism in Syrian Crisis

Abstract

Sunni-Shiite divide has become one of the most important factors for politics in the Middle Eastern region after the 2011 Syrian crisis. The sectarian dimension of the crisis has come into prominence from time to time in the conflicts in Syria, especially when sectarian groups perceive each other as existential threats. However, this transformation has yet to emerge as a result of the historical roots of sectarianism, but of the leader and political elites using sectarian identities as a tool to ensure the security of power. This article discusses how and by whom sectarian instrumentalization has been applied in the Syrian crisis and how this policy affected the conflicts. In this article, it is argued that the complex sectarian dimension of the Syrian crisis cannot be explained by the primordialism approach. In this context, the Instrumentalism approach has been used to discuss the argument that Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad and his administration instrumentalized the sectarian identity to preserve his authority. For this reason, the actions, discourses and policies of the government have been analyzed to explain how sectarianism was instrumentalized in the Syrian crisis. In the Syrian crisis, the policy of instrumentalizing sectarianism has played an important role in Assad’s ability to turn the conflict in his favor and preserve his existence. On the other hand, it should be noticed that this policy has many negative consequences and brings along a dangerous process. The policy of instrumentalizing sectarianism has led to problems that will affect generations, such as the division of society according to identity lines, the disappearance of tolerance between sectarian groups, and the emergence of identity-based hostilities in the Middle East region. This shows that although the instrumentalization of sectarianism is a policy that provides advantages in the short term, it will create major problems in the long run.

Keywords

• Syria
• Sectarianism
• Instrumentalism
• Instrumentalization
• Primordialism

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