A legitimate representative? Supporting and subverting Syria’s political opposition

Abstract

This chapter discusses the anti-Assad states' support for political opposition groups. It outlines the evolution of the Syrian opposition and charts how the main external supporters contributed to its weakness, particularly Saudi Arabia. Underestimating the Assad regime's durability was a costly error by its international opponents, but as damaging was the overestimation of Syria's opposition and its ability to form a united and effective force. In 2011, the traditional opposition to Assad was weak and fragmented, divided along multiple fault lines; including between insiders and exiles, and between Islamists and secularists. However, foreign states' pursuit of their own agendas combined with a frequent lack of ability actually helped to keep the opposition fragmented and ineffective.