Determinants of the Russian Position towards the Syrian Crisis Cover Image

Uwarunkowania stanowiska Federacji Rosyjskiej wobec kryzysu w Syrii
Determinants of the Russian Position towards the Syrian Crisis

Author(s): Marcin Tarnawski
Subject(s): International Law, Security and defense, Peace and Conflict Studies
Published by: OFFICINA SIMONIDIS. Wydawnictwo Uczelni Państwowej im. Szymona Szymonowica w Zamościu
Keywords: The Arab Spring; Syria; Russia; chemical weapons; foreign policy of the Russian Federation;

Summary/Abstract: In the Syrian conflict Russia from the beginning used to have a clear position and also clearly emphasized opposition to the moves of the United States and Europe. The Russian position is motivated by a specific vision of a world order in which the use of force without the approval of the UN Security Council is rejected as well as any outside interference in the affairs of sovereign states. Syrian conflict is treated by the Russian authorities as an event that shapes the new law and international order. Possible solution to the Syrian problem, which would be antagonistic to the Russian position, would lead to the loss of Russian influence in this region of the world and cause the decrease of Russia’s prestige in the international arena. Russia perceives the Arab Spring as a revolution which could be dominated by extremist forces, which, moreover, also raises some concerns in the West. Russians fear that the Syrian conflict could become even more radical and spread to other countries in the region. Russian foreign policy during the events of the autumn of 2013 was clearly aimed at refusing any concessions concerning possible intervention in Syria.

  • Issue Year: 8/2015
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 121-137
  • Page Count: 17
  • Language: Polish