{"id":{"repo_id":"mo-state","oai_identifier":"oai:bearworks.missouristate.edu:theses-2497"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/mo-state/oai:bearworks.missouristate.edu:theses-2497","repository":{"repo_id":"mo-state","name":"Missouri State University","base_url":"https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/do/oai/"},"display":{"title":"The Syrian Civil War","abstract":"The devastating civil war in Syria (2011-present) has been a source for much anxiety and confusion for policymakers in recent years. What initially appeared to be a rather straightforward conflict between an autocrat and citizens seeking greater freedom, has transformed into a sectarian war that has facilitated the rise of a powerful new terror group and greatly destabilized the region. This thesis attempts to formulate a realistic US response to the war. Analyzing and comparing the most prominent international actors' motivations and interests in Syria provided the basis from which the conclusions were drawn. Examination of these factors led to the determination that the United States should remain cautious and pursue a policy that emphasizes non-military options, including continued humanitarian support, generous intelligence sharing with moderate opposition groups, and pursuit of a feasible diplomatic resolution. Further, the United States should increase pressure on the Gulf States to better police money leaving their respective countries to aid radical Islamic groups in the Syrian warzone.","abstract_html":"The devastating civil war in Syria (2011-present) has been a source for much anxiety and confusion for policymakers in recent years. What initially appeared to be a rather straightforward conflict between an autocrat and citizens seeking greater freedom, has transformed into a sectarian war that has facilitated the rise of a powerful new terror group and greatly destabilized the region. This thesis attempts to formulate a realistic US response to the war. Analyzing and comparing the most prominent international actors' motivations and interests in Syria provided the basis from which the conclusions were drawn. Examination of these factors led to the determination that the United States should remain cautious and pursue a policy that emphasizes non-military options, including continued humanitarian support, generous intelligence sharing with moderate opposition groups, and pursuit of a feasible diplomatic resolution. Further, the United States should increase pressure on the Gulf States to better police money leaving their respective countries to aid radical Islamic groups in the Syrian warzone.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Bass, Caleb Wade"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science in Defense and Strategic Studies","degree_level":"Masters","degree_discipline":"Defense and Strategic Studies","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Ilan Berman"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2014,"date_issued":"2014-07-01T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2014-07-01T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:16:37Z","subjects":["Syria","Iran","Russia","United States","extremism","jihadism","ISIS","radicals","Assad","Hezbollah","Gulf States","Turkey","Defense and Security Studies"],"languages":[],"rights":["© Caleb Wade Bass"],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/1496","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Ilan Berman"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Bass, Caleb Wade"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Defense and Strategic Studies"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Masters"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science in Defense and Strategic Studies"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Syria","Iran","Russia","United States","extremism","jihadism","ISIS","radicals","Assad","Hezbollah","Gulf States","Turkey","Defense and Security Studies"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["© Caleb Wade Bass"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/1496"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["The devastating civil war in Syria (2011-present) has been a source for much anxiety and confusion for policymakers in recent years. What initially appeared to be a rather straightforward conflict between an autocrat and citizens seeking greater freedom, has transformed into a sectarian war that has facilitated the rise of a powerful new terror group and greatly destabilized the region. This thesis attempts to formulate a realistic US response to the war. Analyzing and comparing the most prominent international actors' motivations and interests in Syria provided the basis from which the conclusions were drawn. Examination of these factors led to the determination that the United States should remain cautious and pursue a policy that emphasizes non-military options, including continued humanitarian support, generous intelligence sharing with moderate opposition groups, and pursuit of a feasible diplomatic resolution. Further, the United States should increase pressure on the Gulf States to better police money leaving their respective countries to aid radical Islamic groups in the Syrian warzone."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["The Syrian Civil War"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Ilan Berman"],"dc:creator":["Bass, Caleb Wade"],"dc:description.abstract":["The devastating civil war in Syria (2011-present) has been a source for much anxiety and confusion for policymakers in recent years. What initially appeared to be a rather straightforward conflict between an autocrat and citizens seeking greater freedom, has transformed into a sectarian war that has facilitated the rise of a powerful new terror group and greatly destabilized the region. This thesis attempts to formulate a realistic US response to the war. Analyzing and comparing the most prominent international actors' motivations and interests in Syria provided the basis from which the conclusions were drawn. Examination of these factors led to the determination that the United States should remain cautious and pursue a policy that emphasizes non-military options, including continued humanitarian support, generous intelligence sharing with moderate opposition groups, and pursuit of a feasible diplomatic resolution. Further, the United States should increase pressure on the Gulf States to better police money leaving their respective countries to aid radical Islamic groups in the Syrian warzone."],"dc:identifier":["https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/1496"],"dc:rights":["© Caleb Wade Bass"],"dc:subject":["Syria","Iran","Russia","United States","extremism","jihadism","ISIS","radicals","Assad","Hezbollah","Gulf States","Turkey","Defense and Security Studies"],"dc:title":["The Syrian Civil War"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Defense and Strategic Studies"],"thesis:degree_level":["Masters"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science in Defense and Strategic Studies"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:16:37Z"}