Abstract

This thesis applies a social Constructivist lens to the outbreak of sectarian conflicts in Iraq and Syria, the two countries in the Middle East which have seen an outbreak of violent civil wars in the past decade. The dominant explanations for these conflicts reduce the issue down to identities. This isn’t surprising given the diversity of the two states’ populations. What we aim to assess in this thesis is how these sectarian identities have been shaped and constructed. I refute the notion that sectarianism is a natural outcome of competing identities and religious myth-symbols. Instead, I explore the question of how intermestics, or what Bahgat Korany defines as “the organic relationship between the international and the domestic,” shaped the sectarian conflicts that broke out in Syria and Iraq. The outcome of this research, which will be touched on in its conclusion, will put forth the common elements which have shaped the Iraqi and Syrian sectarian conflicts. Such analyses can be used to better understand the potential dangers of future sectarian strife in the region. Furthermore, the argument of this thesis highlights the importance of looking at the complex dynamics of intermestics in international relations.

Department

Political Science Department

Degree Name

MA in Political Science

Graduation Date

6-1-2016

Submission Date

May 2016

First Advisor

Korany, Bahgat

Committee Member 1

Sika, Nadine, James Sunday

Extent

120 p.

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Rights

The author retains all rights with regard to copyright. The author certifies that written permission from the owner(s) of third-party copyrighted matter included in the thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study has been obtained. The author further certifies that IRB approval has been obtained for this thesis, or that IRB approval is not necessary for this thesis. Insofar as this thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study is an educational record as defined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 USC 1232g), the author has granted consent to disclosure of it to anyone who requests a copy.

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval

Not necessary for this item

Comments

A sincere thank you to Dr. Bahgat Korany for all of his hard work and effort.

Download

Share

COinS