Building Peace in a Post-Assad Syria: State Without a Nation, Establishing Secure Environment, Democratic Transition, Reconciliation - Case Studies including Peru, South Africa, Liberia, Sri Lanka

Professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction, this military study explores a scenario where a post-Assad Syria faces a transition from civil war toward peace with its current borders and internal divisions. Under this construct, the challenges of creating a security environment, engineering a democracy, and achieving reconciliation stand out as both opportunities and obstacles in building a lasting peace in a divided Syria. Different approaches to each of these challenges are analyzed by comparing theoretical literature and case studies. In drawing lessons from different states' shared experiences, a rough outline of best practices is drawn. Finally, Syria's specific context is applied, offering a potential framework for a post-conflict Syria to build its peace.
Syria's civil war remains a bloody stalemate between government forces and various opposition groups. The conflict continues to impact neighboring states with spillover fighting and increased economic burdens from refugees. In light both of Syria's importance to regional stability and in recent lessons learned from a lack of post-conflict planning, it is important for academics and policy makers to consider potential stabilization policies for a post-conflict Syria.
CHAPTER I - INTRODUCTION * CHAPTER II - SYRIA: A STATE WITHOUT A NATION * A. GREATER SYRIA, THE PROVINCE * B. SYRIA THE CLIENT STATE * C. SOVEREIGN SYRIA * D. ASSAD SYRIA * CHAPTER III - ESTABLISH A SECURE ENVIRONMENT * A. ACHIEVE A NEGOTIATED PEACE PLAN BETWEEN WARRING PARTIES * B. GAIN COMMITTED AND CAPABLE INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT * C. INCLUDE A PLAN FOR ARMS MANAGEMENT * CHAPTER IV - DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION * A. POWER CONSOLIDATION * B. POWER SHARING * C. POWER DIVIDING * D. TAKEAWAYS * CHAPTER V - FINDING RECONCILIATION * A. WHY RECONCILIATION? * B. CASE STUDIES * 1. Peru * 2. South Africa * 3. Liberia * 4. Rwanda * 5. Sri Lanka * C. LESSONS LEARNED * CHAPTER VI - CONCLUSION * A. POST-ASSAD SECURITY ENVIRONMENT * 1. Negotiated Settlement between Leaders of Warring Parties * 2. Gain Committed and Capable International Support * 3. Agree on an Arms Management Plan * B. DEMOCRATIC ENGINEERING * C. POST-CONFLICT RECONCILIATION