Syria and the war in Iraq

The March 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq has altered the geopolitics of the Middle East. In light of the continued war and occupation of Iraq, academic studies detailing how Iraq's neighbors such as Syria have perceived and responded to the invasion remain limited. Incorporating the International Relations literature on perception and misperception and constructivism, this study addresses the question: what are Syria's perceptions of the Iraq War and how are these explained? Relying on primary sources including interviews with Syrian officials and experts, declassified U.S. State Department cables and Syrian television and print interviews, alongside secondary sources, this study will focus on Syria's perceptions from January 2002 to November 2007. Three key findings emerge: the Syrian government has perceived the Iraq War as a threat to regime stability, as a threat to its regional objectives and alternatively, as an arena for cooperation with Iraq and the United States.