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Research Guides

JSIS 495: Task Force - Winter 2014: Task Force G

This guide is for the students in JSIS 495 to help guide them in their research for their capstone projects.

US Policy towards Syria

Denis Bašić MW 11:30-1:20

 

As of today, August 29, 2013, the Obama administration is considering “a limited military strike” against the Syrian government forces in retaliation to an alleged chemical weapons attack on civilians near Damascus. Russia and China have stepped up their warning over strike. Russia, that has a military base in Syria, is cautioning of “catastrophic consequences for the region.” Is the Syrian civil war about to turn into a proxy war between the super powers? Or has it been a proxy war between Iran and Saudi Arabia who support the opposing sides in the conflict ever since the beginning of violence? Keeping in mind the situation in Egypt since the Egyptian revolution, would the policy of weakening the Syrian government and consequent strengthening of the Syrian opposition, that also includes some serious Islamist elements, work well for the “American national interests?” What should the U.S. policy toward Syria be in these volatile times?



		   

Tips for Searching the UW Catalog for Books on Syria, its relationships with other countries and regional problems

  • Try the following subject headings.  Use the format: su: Syria--Foreign relations--1971-  This works best if you use two dashes and no space before or after the two dashes. 
  • Syria -- Foreign relations--1971- ; Syria--Foreign relations--[country, i.e. Israel, Russia, Iran, etc.]; [Country]--Foreign relations--Syria; Syria--Politics and government--2000- ; Civil war--Syria; Chemical weapons, then using the left column, limit to publication date of 2013; Hizballah ; National security--Israel [substitute other countries]; Ḥarakat al-Muqāwamah al-Islāmīyah (better known as Hamas); Arab spring, 2010-; Protest movements--[Country].

Recommended books

Gelvin, James L., 1951-
The Arab uprisings : what everyone needs to know / James L. Gelvin.
New York : Oxford University Press, c2012.
JQ1850.A91 G37 2012
Tacoma Stacks
+Online version

The Syria dilemma / edited by Nader Hashemi and Danny Postel.
Cambridge, Massachusetts : The MIT Press, 2013.
OUGL Stacks; DS98.6 .S94 2013

Guide to Syria in Crisis / Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Journal databases

The following specialized databases help you identify articles in scholarly journals, magazines and newspapers.

Background, Country Information and Statistics

Policy Sources

Current News

Need Help? Ask a Librarian!

Mary St. Germain
Near East/Middle East Librarian

marys@uw.edu

John Holmes
Psychology Librarian

jwholmes@uw.edu