Beyond Sectarianism: Geopolitics, Fragmentation, and the Syrian Civil War

The civil war raging in Syria is often portrayed in sectarian terms that underscore the antagonism between the Sunni majority and the Alawite minority. This Sunni-Shiite sectarian cleavage is especially important given the regional dimension of a conflict that has become a proxy war between the leading regional powers, Saudi Arabia and Iran. The article explores the main historical and political drivers behind the strengthening of sectarian dynamics within Syria, while also focusing on the regional impact of this trend. The article seeks to put sectarianism in context, noting the contribution of domestic and regional political factors to this revival of pre-ascribed identities. The Syrian war demonstrates that while sectarianism can be deliberately fueled in the region in the context of a larger geopolitical game, once the genie is out of the bottle, sectarian dynamics and the accompanying instability and radicalism are difficult to control.