WHY SO SYRIA?

Luc Descour Period 7

Map of Syria

Middle Eastern country bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest.

Leaders

Revolutionaries are attempting to overthrow current Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad Why?

influenced by other protests in the region calling for political reforms and the

reinstatement of civil rights Uprising triggered when 15 children were

arrested and mistreated in Deraa for writing anti-government graffiti

Country Description

The population of Syria is 74% Sunni Muslim, with a 13% Shia Muslim population, 10% Christian and 3% Druze. Combined, some 90% of the Syrian population is Muslim

Population: 22,457,763 Government: Dominant-party system Capital: Damascus

Revolutionary Demographics

Initially mix of activists and jurists, writers, journalists, young academics and family members to people detained in Syrian prisons

Mostly very young males (teens-30s)

How are they protesting?

Flash mobs- all over capital of Damascus

1. No longer than 10 minutes2. Organized over social networks One case of self-immolation reported

Similarities to American Revolution Citizens want to remove oppressive

and power hungry government in favor of democracy

Involves the support of other countries (America ~ France) (Syria ~ US)

People have reacted with protests and rioting

Differences to American Revolution

Use of online social networking for protests

Revolution for change of government, not for independence

Taking place within the country

Where is Syria headed?

I believe Syria is on the road to achieving a reformed, more democratic government. President Al-Assad has shown initiative to change by firing his entire cabinet. With the wave of successes from other countries in the Arab Spring, I anticipate Syrian revolutionaries achieving success as well; if not from Al-Assad’s resignation, then by force.

Works Cited Page

Rania Abouzeid “Dissent in Damascus’ Shadows:Driving Around Syria’s Capital” Time Magazine. Aug. 12, 2011. 26 October 2011. http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2088366,00.html

Rania Abouzeid “Syrian Military Attacks Protesters in Hama” Time Magazine. Aug. 01, 2011. 26 October 2011 http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2086062,00.html

Paul Knott “Forget Egypt And Libya, Syria Is The Really Scary One” Sabotage Times 26 October 2011 http://www.sabotagetimes.com/life/syria-the-really-scary-one/

N/A/ “Syria: Has the Regime Turned a Corner Against the Protests?” Time Magazine. May 18, 2011. 26 October 2011 http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2072376,00.html