My previous perception of the Syrian Civil War was informed by modern news, which communicated recent events in Syria and not the historical, political, or cultural landscape that caused the civil war. Because of this course, my knowledge has expanded and the information that was given to me and that I, independently, studied has allowed me to realize that the war is a more complex issue than I originally thought or was informed. The Syrian Civil War is not just a war caused by modern Islamist radicals or dictator-like leadership. The Syrian Civil War erupted from a multi-generational problem of extreme leadership, natural disasters, ideological terrorist organizations, economic instability, and unnecessary foreign involvement. Thus, the civil war is not something that can be solved overnight or with the aid of Western nations. In understanding the web of problems and the unlikelihood of an easy solution, this course helped me realize that the Syrian Civil War is not as clear-cut as the news tries to showcase it to be and is something the U.S. government should be wary of being involved in, due to the war’s origin.
