British foreign policy towards Syria : its importance, its distinctiveness and its relations to the policy of other actors in the region
Abstract
This thesis explores the dynamics involved in shaping the Anglo-Syrian
relationship. It argues that to understand UK relations towards Syria over the
past century, they have to be viewed in the broader context of British policy on
Middle East regional issues, and wider foreign policy priorities. With no direct
interests invested in Syria, it is both Britain’s continued involvement in Middle
East affairs and Syria’s standing as a key regional power that assures a
continuing relationship. Consequently, the stance of leading UK politicians on
the issues of post-World War regional order, international terrorism, military
interventionism, arms sales, dictatorship and democratisation have
circumscribed UK policy options in relation to Syria.
Using the tools of Neoclassical realism this study considers British foreign policy
behaviour, in terms of Britain’s attempt to mobilize the power to protect its
interests. It reviews Britain’s international behaviour in part by how it is
affected by changes in the international system, as Britain has declined from
being a great imperial power, to a European power. Alliances are a key tool
Britain has used to manage its decline, and this study identifies the impact that
this has had on Anglo-Syrian relations with particular reference to the US and
EU. Finally, it demonstrates that understanding how the foreign policy process
works in Britain is key to understanding its international behaviour. In this it
takes into account elite perceptions both of what these interests are and how
best Britain can achieve them. This adds a layer of understanding as to why foreign policy outcomes do not always conform with what would be predicted
purely in terms of the pursuit of the national interest.
Type
Thesis, PhD Doctor of Philosophy
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