Current State of Affairs in Iraq and Syria - a Report

Summary, in English

This report aims to introduce the reader to contemporary developments in Iraq and Syria. It starts by an overview of the modern history of the two states. This is followed by more focused parts with the purpose to highlight issues in regard to uprisings and conflicts. Specific attention is given to recent and current political culture and to policies concerning religious and ethnic groups as well as the position of women in Iraq and Syria. The question of developments in the form of a civil society is also addressed and in the last part the development and ideas within the Islamist undertaking the Islamic State is emphasized. One ambition in the report is to underline the history of the recent development in the two countries and then in light of this history emphasize that the there are a number of issues that have be addressed in order to create sustainable solutions to

present conditions in Iraq and Syria. Hence, another purpose is to place the situation of women and ordinary citizens in a context. A further ambition is to demonstrate the complexity of conflicts and

uprisings and the need for careful and nuanced approaches. Finally, it is important to stress that further, focused study is required in order to shed light to aspects of this highly volatile situation

and guide positive interventions.

• Author: Leif Stenberg; Kholoud Mansour
• Department/s: Centre for Advanced Middle Eastern Studies (CMES); MECW: The Middle East in the Contemporary World
• Publishing year: 2015
• Language: English
• Document type: Report
• Publisher: Center for Middle Eastern Studies, Lund University
• Topic: Social Sciences Interdisciplinary; Religious Studies; Political Science
• Keywords: Iraq; Syria; geography; demography; religion; economy; minorities; uprising; dynamism; women
• Status: Published