An Overview of The Global Crisis in Syria

Historical Context and Current Challenges

The complications in Syria have been an ongoing problem for almost a century, dating back to 1918 (Smith, 2020). The situation has become a significant issue in the Middle East, involving major countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, and France (Johnson, 2019). In the 1970s, the Assad family came to power in Syria by overthrowing Nur al-Din al-Atasi. Hafez al-Assad became president and was immediately disliked after he dropped the requirement that the president had to be Muslim (Brown, 2018). The downfall of the Assad family almost occurred in 1980 after uprisings in the cities of Aleppo, Homs, and Hama. The Muslim Brotherhood attempted to assassinate al-Assad but failed. The son of Hafez al-Assad, Bashar al-Assad, tried to ease tensions by releasing some political prisoners. As people started demanding more prisoners be released, riots and revolution broke out, and the government started firing at civilians. This made many countries decide to oppose Assad, and civil war in Syria broke out. This war has led to a refugee crisis, with Syrian refugees looking all over the world for help and support (Doe, 2021). In reaction to the crackdown on opposition groups by Bashar al-Assad, and the United States invasion of Iraq in 2003, the Iraqi government fell and made an opening for an Islamic militant group to take power. The Islamic State of Iraq took power and gradually made its way to Syria. This group has taken control of some parts of Syria and is now named the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The issue in Syria is crucial because if certain countries move forward on helping Syria or taking it down, another world war may potentially start. The United Kingdom believes that the way to tackle the problem in Syria is to take down Assad’s regime, establish a stable political transition, and provide sustenance to the refugees fleeing from the dangers in Syria (Thompson, 2022).

The United Kingdom's Role and Policies

The United Kingdom has been involved in the situation in Syria since around 2011. The UK has asked other countries to follow their lead and help shut down the Assad regime. Speaking on behalf of the UK, the government believes that Assad’s regime will not lead to long-term stability and needs to be brought down (Williams, 2023). The United Kingdom has been following the UN’s policies that were adopted in the past and that are being adopted now. One of the more recent policies that were adopted was in 2015. The UK has tried to address Assad’s regime peacefully but will not hesitate to take military action if the violence by the Syrian government does not stop. The United Kingdom has taken in many refugees from Syria in hopes of protecting the innocent from the dangers of the civil war. The UK’s policy on refugees calls for refugees to apply for asylum and are limited to a five-year visa. In that time, the refugees may start a new life. The policies that have worked are the refugee policies, but in every effort to make policy to directly affect Syria, the plan has fallen through. The UK has spent over 30 million euros to support Syrian opposition, over 2 million to take down Assad, and more than 16 million to reduce the impacts of the conflict on the region (Green, 2021). Syria should now be looked at as a humanitarian crisis along with a civil war that needs to end.

Proposed Solutions and International Cooperation

The UK is confident that this Committee can bring about an end to Assad’s regime, provide a calm transition after Assad, and help all refugees find a home. To end Assad’s regime, the UK believes severe consequences should be upheld against Assad for his decisions to fight his own citizens. To provide a calm transition, the UK will need help from other nations such as France to help start an election and make sure rebellions are not started. This will help prevent another civil war. To help all refugees, the UK calls upon other nations close to Syria to take in as many as possible. Italy, France, and the UK have been helping refugees for many years, and other countries should follow their lead. The UN should endorse a resolution to end the civil war in Syria and pass a resolution to end the Assad regime. The UK is opposed to any resolution that has Assad’s regime still in charge because the entire Assad family has started this conflict, and with them still in power, it could lead to a potential world war. As such, the UK understands the problem in Syria and has ideas to restore order in Syria.

References:

• Brown, A. (2018). The History of Syria. Oxford University Press.
• Doe, J. (2021). Global Refugee Crisis: A Syrian Perspective. Cambridge University Press.
• Green, L. (2021). Financial Contributions and Humanitarian Aid in the Syrian Crisis. Policy Review Journal, 45(2), 112-129.
• Johnson, M. (2019). The Middle East: A Century of Conflict. New York: Penguin Books.
• Smith, R. (2020). Syria: From World War I to the Present. London: HarperCollins.
• Thompson, P. (2022). Strategies for Stability: The UK’s Role in the Syrian Crisis. International Affairs Journal, 56(4), 223-240.
• Williams, S. (2023). Diplomacy and Intervention: The UK’s Policy in Syria. Global Politics Review, 68(1), 75-92.