The Syria revolution erupted in 2011 following the so-called Arab Spring uprisings in neighboring countries. The initial peaceful revolutionary movement was harshly repressed from the beginning and quickly suffered a militarization process that ended up in a long and highly lethal war. The Syrian conflict has witnessed over the last 7 years a growing trend of sectarianism and the emergence of radical militias in both sides and Jihadi-inspired groups such as ISIS. They have further complicated the conflict and operated thanks to and favoring foreign intervention.  Syria is a local conflict that has gradually absorbed regional tensions (both historical and recently-created) and global rivalries playing simultaneously on the Syrian ground. Therefore, its effects will have implications not only for Syrians and Middle-Easters, but also for the international community as a whole. 

In this course we will study drivers, origins, actors - domestic and external – and consequences of a conflict that has been considered the biggest humanitarian tragedy since the II World War.