Syrian Crisis Research Articles

Emotions and norms in the Syrian refugee crisis: the comparative responses of the EU and Turkey

ABSTRACT This paper delves into the evolving research area of emotions and norms within international relations, focusing on the EU-Turkey dynamics amid the Syrian refugee crisis. Utilizing Emotion Discourse Analysis (EDA), it examines discourses from key EU and Turkish leaders between 2011 and 2023 to understand how their emotional responses to Syrian refugees influence the universal norm of human rights. Since the specific interconnection between leadership emotions and human rights norms remains largely unexplored, this study seeks to fill this gap by examining how emotions expressed by leadership in Turkey and the EU variously challenge, protect, or construct human rights norms related to Syrian refugees. Preliminary findings reveal contrasting emotional expressions: while President Erdoğan’s discourse often aligns with the protection and construction of human rights norms, EU leaders’ emotions reflect a tension between human rights commitments and border security priorities.

The impact of humanitarian aid on financial toxicity among cancer patients in Northwest Syria

IntroductionThe ongoing crisis in Syria has divided the country, leading to significant deterioration of the healthcare infrastructure and leaving millions of people struggling with poor socioeconomic conditions. Consequently, the affordability of healthcare services for the population has been compromised. Cancer patients in Northwest Syria have faced difficulties in accessing healthcare services, which increased their financial distress despite the existence of humanitarian health and aid programs. This study aimed to provide insights into how humanitarian assistance can alleviate the financial burdens associated with cancer treatment in conflict-affected regions.Materials and methodsThis research employed a quantitative, quasi-experimental design with a pre-test-post-test approach, focusing on evaluating the financial toxicity among cancer patients in Northwest Syria before and after receiving humanitarian aid. The study used purposeful sampling to select participants and included comprehensive demographic data collection. The primary tool for measuring financial toxicity was the Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity (FACIT-COST) tool, administered in Arabic. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS v25, employing various statistical tests to explore relationships and impacts.ResultsA total of 99 cancer patients were recruited in the first round of data collection, out of whom 28 patients affirmed consistent receipt of humanitarian aid throughout the follow-up period. The results of the study revealed that humanitarian aid has no significant relationship with reducing the financial toxicity experienced by cancer patients in Northwest Syria. Despite the aid efforts, many patients continued to face significant financial distress.ConclusionThe research findings indicate that current humanitarian assistance models might not sufficiently address the complex financial challenges faced by cancer patients in conflict zones. The research emphasizes the need for a more comprehensive and integrated approach in humanitarian aid programs. The study highlights the importance of addressing the economic burdens associated with cancer care in conflict settings and calls for a re-evaluation of aid delivery models to better serve the needs of chronic disease patients. The findings suggest a need for multi-sectoral collaboration and a systemic approach to improve the overall effectiveness of humanitarian assistance in such contexts.

An analytical investigation of consequences of terrorism in the Middle East

The Middle East has experienced significant and wide-ranging consequences due to terrorism and the resulting War on Terror. The region saw substantial impacts as a result of the War on Terror. This study briefly overviews the security, economic and political repercussions of the prolonged conflict in the region. The rise of terrorism and the War on Terror in the Middle East have seriously affected security, political stability, intensified extremist movements, given rise to proxy wars, caused economic recession, humanitarian crises, restricted civil liberties, and disturbed the balance of power due to geopolitical shifts in regional affairs. The US attack on Iraq, the emergence of radical factions like ISIS and Al-Qaeda, refugee crises, civil wars and resultant humanitarian crises in Yemen, Syria, Libya, Iraq, Lebanon, and Palestine, destroyed many countries' economies and paralysed governments in affected countries, led to sectarianism and power vacuums, and ultimately undermined peace, security and sustainable development in the Middle East. It also had negative economic, security, and political impacts on other parts of the world. In addition, the intervention of external powers in the region and their counterterrorism measures have also motivated many people to join militant organizations. The grievances of common people and their immense civilian losses in the War on Terror gave rise to anti-Western sentiments and joining anti-Western militant groups. Therefore, understanding these consequences is crucial to developing a more effective approach to address the impacts of the War on Terror and restore peace and stability in the Middle East.

Beyond victim and hero representations? A comparative analysis of UNHCR’s Instagram communication strategies for the Syrian and Ukrainian crises

Abstract The Ukrainian crisis has received substantial Global Northern policy support and favourable news coverage, contrasting sharply with Global Southern crises. Nevertheless, refugee organizations can influence public perceptions through social media. This study comparatively analyses UNHCR’s Instagram communication strategies for the Ukrainian and Syrian crises (2022–2023). Applying a multimodal critical discourse analysis on UNHCR’s Instagram posts (N = 90), we discern interacting humanitarian and post-humanitarian appeals, involving inter- and intra-group hierarchies of deservingness, expanding research on humanitarian communication. While UNHCR mainly represents forcibly displaced Ukrainians as victims and focuses on ‘ideal victims’, it mostly portrays forcibly displaced Syrians as empowered individuals, likely due to context-specific differences and partially countering news and policy narratives. Both humanitarian representations often intersect with post-humanitarian strategies, facilitated by Instagram affordances. This study thus contributes to the literature on humanitarian communication with comparative crisis-specific and platform-specific insights and causes. Moreover, it nuances the often-assumed importance of post-humanitarian imageries on social media.

<i>Fiqh al-azma:</i> Crisis Management of Theological Discourse in Syria

In the context of the ongoing civil war in Syria, the official Muslim clergy of the country, represented by the Ministry of Waqf Affairs, has developed a number of theological and legal resolutions on the most pressing issues, united by the common names Fiqh al-Azma (“crisis theology”). They pay special attention to the issues of criticism of takfirism, non-denominationalism, nationalism, explaining the meaning of jihād, the prohibition of riots and revolutions, the religious legitimacy of the national state, interreligious and interfaith dialogue and collaboration within one country, the differentiation of the concepts of Islamic politics and political Islam. This study analyzes the sources and methodology of constructing this theological concept, which, according to the developers themselves, is an example of a moderate renewal (tajdīd) of Islamic theological discourse, the main purpose of which is to confront Fiqh al-Fitnah “theology of turmoil” preached by various extremist groups. The paper also examines an example of one of the most original studies — on the principles of citizenship (muwāṭana) according to Islam, which largely incorporates the main features of the entire concept of Syrian crisis theology.

Кризис-менеджмент в российско-турецких отношениях (на примере сирийского кризиса 2010–2021 гг.)

Introduction. In recent years, issues related to the Syrian crisis, including the shooting down of a Turkish fighter jet by Syria on June 22, 2012, the forced landing of a Syrian passenger plane in Ankara on October 10, 2012, and the shooting down of a Russian Su-24 jet by Turkey on November 24, 2015, have become a serious challenge for Russia and Turkey. Moscow and Ankara took completely opposite positions and moved to direct confrontation, but gradually these two actors managed to avoid an escalation of tensions by synchronizing their positions. Methods and materials. The main research question is: how did Russia and Turkey deal with competition and tension in their relations, which pushed them to cooperate? In response to this hypothesis, it is assumed that along with all the constant and variable factors, including geopolitics, economic cooperation, and opposition to Western unilateralism, this cooperation between the two leaders, Putin and Erdogan, has led to a kind of crisis management and a reduction in tensions between the two countries. This has created a delicate balance of competition and cooperation between the two countries. As a theoretical approach, this study examines international crisis management and its applied interpretation in political research on conflict management (conflict situations) and the role of personality and the “rational actor” model in decision-making theory. The research method in this article is a case study; several crisis cases were analyzed, and the main influencing factors in controlling the relationship between the two countries were identified. Results. The main conclusion of the study is that in crisis management, the role of the individual in the image of an intelligent leader in the implementation of policies with full control over subordinate organizations played a significant role. Authors’ contribution. Mehdi Sanaei is responsible for the concept of the article, the development of its theoretical part, the identification and discussion of controversial issues about crisis and conflict management, and the assessment of information sources. Kamran Hooshyar studied the literature and expert opinions, tested the hypothesis about the large role of the heads of state of Russia and Turkey as political leaders in cooperation, and analyzed the economic and political aspects of cooperation between the two states.

SYRIAN-ISRAELI RELATIONS IN THE CONTEXT OF MODERN CRISES IN THE ARAB EAST

The purpose of the study. The article examines the positions and interests of Syria and Israel in the Syrian crisis; the problems of the impact of Israel’s new war with HAMAS on the Middle East. The current situation in the Syrian conflict and Syrian-Israeli relations are analyzed; trends and prospects for the development of relations between the SAR and Israel in the context of the escalation of the conflict. The purpose of the study is to establish and identify the role and significance of the consequences of the war between Israel and HAMAS for the Middle East, as well as its impact on Syrian-Israeli relations and their further development in the Middle East region. Conclusions. The paper presents the results of a study of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict through the prism of the Syrian crisis. The author of the work examined the prerequisites and causes of the Palestinian-Israeli and Syrian conflicts, as well as analyzed the internal and external actors of the conflict in Syria. This work examines the role of Palestinians and Palestinian organizations in the Syrian civil war, examines the impact of the Syrian crisis on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, determines the degree of mutual influence of the two conflicts and shows the prospects for the development of the regional situation in their context.

VR technology and humanitarian crisis: Political ideology and the intention to donate in the case of the Syrian refugee crisis

Scholars have studied the role of technology in humanitarian crises and have noted an increase in positive attitudes and behavior. Of interest to us is Virtual Reality (VR). We set out to understand the role of VR technology and its relationships with empathy, sympathy, and donation intention in case of the Syrian refugee crisis. We conducted two experimental studies to examine these relationships, where participants watched “Clouds Over Sidra” a VR film for the United Nations. The participants in the VR condition watched the documentary using VR, while in the non-VR condition, participants watched the documentary on a computer. Our results indicate a complex picture. It seems that VR technology can increase empathy and sympathy in participants, which can lead to a higher intention to donate. However, when we tested the relationship with political ideology as a moderator, empathy did not hold. In a moderated mediation model, we found that VR technology increased sympathy, which led to higher intention to donate. This relationship was moderated by political ideology, such that self-reported liberals scored high on donation intention in both the VR and non-VR groups. However, among conservatives, participants in the VR condition showed higher intention to donate.

No Country for Young Refugees: Barriers and Opportunities for Inclusive Refugee Education Practices

The recent refugee crises in Ukraine (2022) and Syria (2011) have created millions of refugees, 40% of whom are children. The education systems of countries hosting refugees struggle to integrate such large populations. In addition, language barriers and the stigma associated with refugees hamper inclusive and equitable education opportunities for these children. There is thus a risk of “lost generations” distanced from education, who may eventually depend on social security systems and monetary aid in the long term. This study considers the following research question: How can a host country improve the inclusion of refugee children in the education system without overburdening its infrastructure? First, we document the availability and accessibility challenges and opportunities that refugee children face during the Syrian refugee crisis. We then develop an inclusive planning strategy aligned with existing capacity and resources and formulate two adaptations of the maximum covering problem (MCP): cooperative capacitated MCP with heterogeneity constraints (CCMCP-HC) to improve the current schooling access in Türkiye and Modular CCMCP-HC to guide early planning in the case of a future crisis. Our computational analyses illustrate that the proposed approach yields higher schooling rates and capacity utilization than existing approaches. Our results emphasize the importance of having a planning strategy in the initial phases of a crisis that considers future integration possibilities. This study analyzes Türkiye’s experience and lessons learned to provide a road map for other ongoing and future refugee crises.

Autism in the Context of Humanitarian Emergency: The Lived Experiences of Syrian Refugee Mothers of Children on the Autism Spectrum

This study explored the resettlement experiences of Syrian refugees accessing supports and services for their autistic children in Alberta, Canada. Using interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA), in-depth interviews with three participants led to seven shared themes regarding parental experiences with the Syrian crisis, access to supports and services, barriers to resettlement, and sentiments regarding their resettlement. Findings are explained using migrant adaptation models to situate practice within a social justice orientation by understanding the perspectives of vulnerable migrant populations. Practical implications include ways to benefit refugees, imbue culture within practice, inform policy initiatives, and highlight the importance of trauma-informed care.

The Legal Regulations and Governmental Approaches towards Refugees in Jordan

Jordan has long been a refuge for those fleeing conflict and persecution in neighbouring countries. As a result, the country has developed a robust set of laws and policies to protect refugees and provide them with the support they need to rebuild their lives. In this context, understanding the refugee laws in Jordan is crucial for anyone interested in the welfare of refugees and the broader humanitarian crisis in the region. With over 750,000 registered refugees, Jordan is home to one of the largest refugee populations in the world. The country has been praised for its generosity and commitment to protecting refugees, but also faces significant challenges in providing for the needs of such a large and diverse population. Understanding the legal framework that governs refugees in Jordan is essential to addressing these challenges and improving the lives of those affected by conflict and displacement. The ongoing conflict in Syria has resulted in a massive influx of refugees into neighbouring countries, including Jordan. To meet the needs of this growing population, the Jordanian government has established a set of laws and policies designed to provide refugees with protection, assistance, and access to essential services. This legal framework is a critical component of the countrys humanitarian response to the Syrian crisis and plays an essential role in the lives of hundreds of thousands of refugees living in Jordan.

Counterintervention Success: Analyzing Russian and US Involvement in Syrian Crisis

Counterintervention Success: Analyzing Russian and US Involvement in Syrian Crisis

Counterintervention Success: Analyzing Russian and US Involvement in Syrian Crisis

Counterintervention Success: Analyzing Russian and US Involvement in Syrian Crisis

Utilizing Eurocentric Temporary Protection Directive as a Global Approach of Refugee Protection

The temporary protection directive is one of the noblest mechanisms of the European refugee protection regime. The European Union has designed it following the principle of temporary protection and non-refoulement of international refugee law. The United Nations Refugee Convention is the institutional root of these principles. In 2001, the EU has adopted the directive to improve its refugee protection mechanism. But they have never activated the directive until the current Ukrainian refugee crisis. This has remained as a piece of paper or unnecessary tool for the European countries. Their reluctance towards activating the directive seems to be hegemonic and political to some extent. Though they had all the grounds for activating the directive during the Syrian, Afghan or Tunisian refugee crisis, they did not choose to activate it. The paper doesn’t oppose the activation of TPD for Ukrainian refugees. It only explores and discusses the dualist role of the EU in activating TPD. The paper is also asking for its universal application for any refugees irrespective of their origin and the EU’s geopolitical interest. Lastly, it solicits for the utilization of the ‘doctrine of temporary refuge’ across the countries in the best possible manner considering the example of EU’s TPD.

Medical education in Syria at a time of crisis: Analysis of the results of the knowledge-based National Medical Examination.

This study explored how the Syrian crisis, training conditions, and relocation influenced the National Medical Examination (NME) scores of final-year medical students. Results of the NME were used to denote the performance of final-year medical students between 2014 and 2021. The NME is a mandatory standardised test that measures the knowledge and competence of students in various clinical subjects. We categorised the data into two periods: period-I (2014-2018) and period-II (2019-2021). Period-I represents students who trained under hostile circumstances, which refer to the devastating effects of a decade-long Syrian crisis. Period-II represents post-hostilities phase, which is marked by a deepening economic crisis. Collected data included test scores for a total of 18 312 final-year medical students from nine medical schools (from six public and three private universities). NME scores improved significantly in period-II compared with period-I tests (p< 0.0001). Campus location or relocation during the crisis affected the results significantly, with higher scores from students of medical schools located in lower-risk regions compared with those from medical schools located in high-risk regions (p< 0.0001), both during and in the post-hostilities phases. Also, students of medical schools re-located to lesser-risk regions scored significantly less than those of medical schools located in high-risk regions (p< 0.0001), but their scores remained inferior to that of students of medical schools that were originally located in lower-risk regions (p< 0.0001). Academic performance of final year medical students can be adversely affected by crises and conflicts, with a clear tendency to recovery upon crises resolution. The study underscores the importance of maintaining and safeguarding the infrastructure of educational institutions, especially during times of crisis. Governments and educational authorities should prioritise resource allocation to ensure that medical schools have access to essential services, learning resources, and teaching personnel.

Genesis and evolution of parallel economies during the Syrian crisis: A political economy view

A highly internationalized domestic armed conflict in Syria, active since 2011, has caused deep territorial fragmentation, accompanied by the genesis of numerous parallel economies. Those include the economy of the self-proclaimed “Kurdish autonomy” encompassing the northeast, partially the north and the east of the country, as well as the historical transboundary criminal-terrorist economy of the “Islamic State of Syria and the Levant” (ISIL or ISIS) (this organization is banned in the Russian Federation), which existed during 2014–2019 in Iraq and Syria, the economy of “the Turkish occupation zone” in the north, and finally the economy of the part of the north-western Idlib province, remaining under control of the radical Syrian opposition. Unlike the previous materials on the Syrian conflict published in Russia and abroad, the author analyzes parallel economies from the angle of political economy, i.e., the “state-economy-individual” trichotomy, using current and retrospective lenses. In addition to a scope of Russian, English, and Arabic resources and literature, he uses the data obtained empirically during his previous stint as a senior diplomat at the Russian Embassy in Damascus. In certain cases the reviews are illustrated by the statistics. The article covers the genesis and evolution of parallel economies, including the phenomena of divided cities and siege economies, highlighting the restrictions on the access of the central authorities to the state borders and the dissolution of transport and communications. Besides, it analyses the external orientations of parallel economies, in many cases being tied more to the neighbor states (Türkiye, Iraq) than the rest of Syria. In conclusion, the author compares the levels of sustainability of the parallel economies in Syria in the light of perspectives for national economic reintegration. Which could be important not in scientific terms only but as a practical imperative for seeking the modalities of a peaceful settlement of the Syrian crisis as well.

Genesis and evolution of parallel economies during the Syrian crisis: A political economy view

A highly internationalized domestic armed conflict in Syria, active since 2011, has caused deep territorial fragmentation, accompanied by the genesis of numerous parallel economies. Those include the economy of the self-proclaimed “Kurdish autonomy” encompassing the northeast, partially the north and the east of the country, as well as the historical transboundary criminal-terrorist economy of the “Islamic State of Syria and the Levant” (ISIL or ISIS) (this organization is banned in the Russian Federation), which existed during 2014–2019 in Iraq and Syria, the economy of “the Turkish occupation zone” in the north, and finally the economy of the part of the north-western Idlib province, remaining under control of the radical Syrian opposition. Unlike the previous materials on the Syrian conflict published in Russia and abroad, the author analyzes parallel economies from the angle of political economy, i.e., the “state-economy-individual” trichotomy, using current and retrospective lenses. In addition to a scope of Russian, English, and Arabic resources and literature, he uses the data obtained empirically during his previous stint as a senior diplomat at the Russian Embassy in Damascus. In certain cases the reviews are illustrated by the statistics. The article covers the genesis and evolution of parallel economies, including the phenomena of divided cities and siege economies, highlighting the restrictions on the access of the central authorities to the state borders and the dissolution of transport and communications. Besides, it analyses the external orientations of parallel economies, in many cases being tied more to the neighbor states (Türkiye, Iraq) than the rest of Syria. In conclusion, the author compares the levels of sustainability of the parallel economies in Syria in the light of perspectives for national economic reintegration. Which could be important not in scientific terms only but as a practical imperative for seeking the modalities of a peaceful settlement of the Syrian crisis as well.

Political economy dynamics of Russia's intervention in Syria

This article aims to place the issue of economic benefits obtained by Russia by military intervention in Syria in the larger perspective of its role as a global player shaping Middle East affairs. The essay aims to answer the following question: How much have Russia's economic interests been impacted by its military involvement in Syria? Russian objectives in Syria extend beyond its geostrategic location to encompass national interests in various strategic areas, particularly maintaining its economic power and bolstering its worldwide influence in Middle Eastern politics. The article will explore the additional advantages that contributed to the expansion of Russian commercial ties in the region, beyond Syria's geostrategic location. This article assumes that Russia is steadily investing in building its influence and creating geo-economic dynamics to boost its economic national interests. The study examines how Russia has been translating its military participation into economic benefits across several sectors, including arms transactions, oil businesses, economic networking, trade facilitation, and resilience. The paper will rely on signed contracts, official papers, reports, menus, speeches, press releases, declaratory statements, and reports on official visits as primary data. This article focuses on the political economy of Russian military involvement in the Syrian crisis to provide detailed insights.

Syrian Economic Crisis in Arabic News: A Critical Discourse Analysis

This research utilizes the discourse analysis methodology developed by Fairclough and Leeuwen to scrutinize the portrayal of the Syrian economic crisis in Arabic news outlets such as Al Jazeera, Al Arabiya, and Al-Ikhbariyah, Syria. The study seeks to understand the methods of excluding and incorporating the discourse about Syria's economic crisis in Arabic news and elucidate the various factors and their implications on Syria's economy and societal progress. The analysis is based on data collected from the aforementioned Arabic news outlets between 2021 and 2022. The research findings include instances of exclusionary discourse in reporting Syria's economic crisis, manifested through one instance of Passivation, one of Nominalization, and three cases of Subject Substitution. The study also identified the active discourse, evidenced by one instance of abstraction, one of identification, two of Association, and one of Individualization. The research demonstrated that various Arabic news outlets accurately depicted the discourse surrounding Syria's economic crisis and offered mutual clarification. Nevertheless, the employed discourse strategies varied, resulting in differing viewpoints on the issue. A primary exacerbating factor identified was the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which transformed Syrian territory into a conduit for weaponry and food, thereby escalating the economic crisis in Syria. The fallout from this economic turmoil is expected to reverberate into neighboring nations such as Lebanon and Iran.

Syrian crises effect on specialty choice and the decision to work in the country among residents of six major hospitals in Syria, Damascus.

Assessing the impact of war on medical residents' specialty choices and migration decisions is critical to ensure the sustainability of healthcare systems worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the Syrian crisis on specialty choices, related factors, and decisions to work in Syria among residents of six major university hospitals in Damascus. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a validated questionnaire from 20/4/2022 to 20/5/2022, including all eligible residents with no missing data. The questionnaire was comprised of 68 items, and residents were divided into two groups: group 1 included residents who made their specialty choice after the end of the military war in Damascus 2018, while group 2 included residents who made their specialty choice (the point of submitting their lists and applying for residency) during the war. A total of 370 residents were included, with 38.4% females and 61.6% males. Our findings revealed that 30% of residents preferred working in Syria, while 43.5% preferred working abroad. The factor of a "safer and more stable life" was significantly higher in Group 1 than in Group 2 (3.86>3.5, p-value = 0.026). Additionally, Group 1 residents were more likely to choose radiology, pathology, laboratory, and psychiatry specialization as their specialties, while choosing surgical specializations and hematology decreased compared to Group 2 (p-value<0.05). Factors related to social life were rated higher by group 1 (mean = 3.31) than by group 2 (mean = 2.27, Standard deviation = 0.19, p-value = 0.002). Moreover, the factor of "a specialization to facilitate traveling abroad" was significantly higher in Group 1 (2.69>2.21, Standard deviation = 0.22, p-value = 0.033). The Syrian crisis and its economic aftermath have influenced residents' specialty choices and practice locations. Even after the war's end, the high level of migration intentions could negatively affect the quality of provided healthcare services.