Anatomising Syrian crisis: Enumerating actors, motivations, and their strategies (2011-2019)

Syrian crisis started as a domestic uprising against President Bashar-ul-Assad, and soon engulfed not only the neighbouring states, but also extra-regional great powers. This study tries to anatomise by addressing nature of actors lying at domestic, regional, system levels, who have rendered conflict its multifaceted nature. The main question this addresses is: What are factors that contributed complexity Civil War why has degenerated into prolonged violent engagement between different groups? While using theoretical prism contentious theory civil war developed Adrian Florea in-depth qualitative case methodological tool, hypothesizes grievances level resulted in onset Syria, which was later exacerbated rise ISIS strategic competition among regional concludes that, though is over yet, increasing interests overtures Saudi Arabia growing animosity towards Iran opened new avenues for involvement post-conflict reconstruction effective governance, peace, stability Syria.