Stormakters motiv i Syrienkonflikten : En komparativ fallstudie av USA:s och Rysslands engagemang 2013–2023

Sammanfattning

This thesis examines the motives behind the involvement of the United States and Russia in the Syrian conflict between 2013 and 2023. Syria developed into a strategically important arena for great-power engagement as the conflict escalated, chemical weapons were used, and the Islamic State expanded its territorial control. The aim of the study is to identify similarities and differences in the two states motives through the theoretical perspectives of realism, liberalism, and constructivism.The study is designed as a comparative case study with a theory-guided approach, in which established theories are used as analytical tools to interpret the empirical material. The analysis is structured around three analytical dimensions: reality perception, utopia, and strategy. The empirical material consists of policy documents and official statements, which are analysed through a qualitative text analysis.The findings show that both the United States and Russia justified their engagement primarily in terms of security, while also using Syria as an arena for strategic influence. At the same time, their motives differed in important respects. The United States combined security concerns with support for international norms, political transition, and institutional cooperation, whereas Russia emphasized state sovereignty, regime survival, and the preservation of its status and influence in the region. By combining realist, liberal, and constructivist perspectives, the thesis contributes to a broader understanding of contemporary great-power motives and behaviour in armed conflict.