The Arab Spring in Syria: Domestic and regional developments

Abstract

While briefly examining the compatibility of democracy and Islam in Arab and Muslim countries, I focus on domestic and regional developments relating to the ongoing bloody war in Syria. While Shi'i Iran has empowered its quasi-Shi'i ally, Bashar Assad's Alawi regime, Sunni Muslim countries such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Qatar are divided regarding support of the mainstream Muslim rebel groups. All these parties are deeply concerned about the strengthening of Al-Qai'da's affiliated fanatic Islamic groups in Syria and beyond. Bashar has taken advantage of the Al-Qaida menace to present himself to the West as a pragmatic, secular partner. He adopted his Russian ally's initiative to give up his chemical weapons, and the US, which had previously endeavored to topple Bashar, has accepted Russia's offer. Relevant to these developments is the agreement on Iran's nuclear program signed by Washington and its European partners with Tehran, Bashar's ally. The intriguing question is whether Iran would now meet Washington's expectation and induce Bashar to step down within a political settlement, or would Iran continue to back Bashar and Hizballah while advancing its Shi'i Crescent strategic design?