Impact of neopatrimonialism on the trajectory of the conflict in Syria

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Tezin Türü: Yüksek Lisans

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi, Uluslararası İlişkiler Bölümü, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2018

Öğrenci: BELAL SALAYMEH

Danışman: ÖZLEM TÜR KÜÇÜKKAYA

Özet:

This thesis attempts to understand the impact of the nature of the Assad regime on the trajectory of the conflict which took place in Syria following the 2011 uprising. It argues that the Assad regime which has been ruling Syria since 1970 represents a case of neopatrimonial regime. The thesis elaborates the neopatrimonial conceptualization tracing the concept back to its Weberian roots. It follows the evolution of the concept from the ‘traditional’ patrimonialism to the modern ‘neo’ patrimonialism. The thesis claims that the neopatrimonial regime consolidates its power through personalization of the regime, patronage and clientelism networks. The claim puts forth is that through neopatrimonialism, the Assad regime was able to consolidate its patrimonial domination and penetrate the bureaucratic realm as well as the society through the patronage and clientelism networks. The thesis argues that the neopatrimonialism had fostered the durability of the regime, and limited the outcomes of the conflict to a rocking between a re-stabilization of the regime and an uncertain revolution, and has influenced the trajectory of the conflict which dragged the country into a state of civil war.