Citation

Phillips C, Valbjørn M. Small Wars Insurg. 2018; 29(3): 414-433.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/09592318.2018.1455328

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Post-uprisings Middle East politics is frequently described as a 'regional cold war' involving proxy warfare that emphasises the role of shared identities linking external and local actors. But does the 'content' of identities impact proxy war dynamics? This article considers the present 'battle for Syria', a local conflict that became a theatre for multiple proxy wars involving actors emphasising identities on various levels, most notably national, religious/ sect and ethnic. It suggests that identity content does matter, with global powers more reluctant than regional players to back groups identifying at sub-national level, while foreign non-state actors are enthusiastic backers of sub-national identity.

Language: en

Keywords

identity politics; Middle East; proxy wars; Syrian conflict