1. هذا هو مشروع بلدي سوريا

2.  Country in Western Asia  Bordered by Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, and the Mediterranean Sea  Capital City = Damascus  Built on site of numerous ancient empires

3.  President of Syria since 2000 (has run unopposed each time)  Leader of the Ba’ath Party  Heir to his father’s 29 year rule of Syria  Noted disregard for human rights/corruption  Harsh critic of US and Israel

4.  Beginning in March 2011, outbreak of “anti-regime” protests in Syria  Protests in Damascus (mostly focused in outskirts of city)  Syrian Revolution Coordinators Union + Free Syrian Army  Revolters = Young, Middle Class [Mostly Male] Citizens  Majority = Sunni Muslims  “Working classes against elite”

5.  Protests met with violent government suppression  Notable Examples: 1. Shooting of protestors in Dara’a 2. Hospitalizing of popular political cartoonist Ali Ferzat 3. Bombing of known protestor city(s)

6.  Limited US involvement 1. Withdrawal of Ambassador Robert Ford from Syria  Increasing isolation from European countries + trading partners (Turkey, etc.)

7.  Began with protests (similar to boycotts, etc.)  Sparked by want for change/democracy  Similar government suppression (parallels with Boston Massacre)  Male-led  Foreign support for cause  Importance of communication (Committees of Correspondence vs. Social Networking)  Economic hardship  Division between those for vs. thos against  Suppression of rights  Rise of regional groups ( i.e. SRCU + FSA vs. local militias)

8.  Britain ruled from afar, Syrian revolution vs. President/local leaders  New technology ―› more devastating consequences  Syria = yet to develop into complete armed conflict  Syria = lack of well-known revolutionary leaders (much more secretive)  No uniform, revolutionary force yet in Syria

9.  Like other Middle Eastern countries (Egypt, Libya, etc.) a distinct Syrian revolutionary force will rise + overthrow Al- Assad  US Involvement imminent  Est. of a democratic government?  However, economic hardship + isolation from other nations may ―› corruption should a new regime be put in place

10.  Abouzeid, Rania. “Dissent in Damascus’ Shadows”. Aug 12, 2011. Oct 26, 2011. http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2088366,00.html http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2088366,00.html  Al Haqq, Hussain [ALIAS]. “Syria: Interview with Syrian Revolution Coordinators Union leader in Qabon”. Jul 10, 2011. Oct 26, 2011. http://asingleman1.wordpress.com/2011/07/10/syria-interview-with-syrian-revolution- coordinators-union-leader-in-qabon/ http://asingleman1.wordpress.com/2011/07/10/syria-interview-with-syrian-revolution- coordinators-union-leader-in-qabon/  Karam, Zeina. “Prominent Syrian cartoonist beaten”. Aug 26, 2011. Oct 26, 2011. http://articles.boston.com/2011-08-26/news/29932124_1_damascus-spring-bashar-assad- syrians http://articles.boston.com/2011-08-26/news/29932124_1_damascus-spring-bashar-assad- syrians  Karon, Tony. “Mired in Libya and Fearful of Consequences, West Holds Back From Syria Intervention”. Aug 3, 2011. Oct 26, 2011. http://globalspin.blogs.time.com/2011/08/03/mired-in-libya-and-fearful-of-consequences- west-holds-back-from-syria-intervention/ http://globalspin.blogs.time.com/2011/08/03/mired-in-libya-and-fearful-of-consequences- west-holds-back-from-syria-intervention/  Sly, Liz. “Syria's President Assad Pressed To Open Dialogue”. Oct 26, 2011. Oct 26, 2011. http://www.npr.org/2011/10/26/141728626/syrias-president-assad-pressed-to-open- dialogue http://www.npr.org/2011/10/26/141728626/syrias-president-assad-pressed-to-open- dialogue  Spencer, Richard. “Syria reacts with fury to US involvement in Hama”. Jul 8, 2011. Oct 26, 2011. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/8626514/Syria-reacts- with-fury-to-US-involvement-in-Hama.htmlhttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/8626514/Syria-reacts- with-fury-to-US-involvement-in-Hama.html