United Nations Involvement In The Syrian Crisis And Its Impacts On European Nations

Abstract

Syrian history in modern times has been a tumultuous one. In the pre-colonial times, Syria has been under the control of the Ottomans until Selim l wrested power from the Mamluks in 1516 A.D. Under the Ottoman Empire, religious pluralism was adopted with a degree of self-administration granted the religious communities (milIets). To the surprise of many, religious tolerance and peaceful co-existence has been a rare remitting trend in Syria as highlighted by the modern day secularist Ba'athist regime. While historians are quick to point at seotarianism as a critical source of social division in Syria, others however, feel it is caused by oppression of the ethnic minorities, the Human Massacre, the Damascus spring effect, Economic reasons, the Arab spring effect as well as the ideological drift of the Ba’ath party. The above reasons notwithstanding, it is obvious that the goals, ambitions, aspirations, desires and fears of individual human beings differ within the society thereby resulting in the pursuit of incompatible interests that generate conflict and crisis, as evident in the case oi Syria. The involvement of the United Nations could not really work as expected under its Charter. On the whole, European sanctions have had a clear impact on the Syrian economy, while the crisis itself exposed a reluctant European public opinion towards international military involvement.