American Foreign Policy Toward the Syrian Civil War

Abstract

This thesis investigates the shift in the “schizophrenic” American foreign policy toward the Syrian Civil War from 2011 to 2015, following the Arab Spring protests. What objectives were outlined, and what events on the ground influenced American policy toward Syria? To what extent did key governmental institutions, American leaders and international alliances help to shape policy? The research examines policy objectives through contrasting analytical lenses using the Rational Policy Model, the Organizational Behavior Model and the Bureaucratic Politics Model developed by political scientist Graham T. Allison. The International Politics Model is added to underscore the influence of international politics at play. The study found that the war in Syria resulted in an “escalating stalemate” due to the strategic competition between regional and extraregional actors. Furthermore, American policy objectives toward Syria failed to materialize due to the failure of the Obama administration, Congress and the United Nations Security Council to develop a military solution to facilitate political objectives.