Syracuse University SURFACE Syracuse University Honors Program Capstone Syracuse University Honors Program Capstone Projects Projects Summer 8-9-2017 Proxy Conflict urnedT Civil Crisis: Understanding Syrian Political Movements to United States Foreign Policy Katherine Barymow Follow this and additional works at: https://surface.syr.edu/honors_capstone Part of the Other Political Science Commons Recommended Citation Barymow, Katherine, "Proxy Conflict urnedT Civil Crisis: Understanding Syrian Political Movements to United States Foreign Policy" (2017). Syracuse University Honors Program Capstone Projects. 992. https://surface.syr.edu/honors_capstone/992 This Honors Capstone Project is brought to you for free and open access by the Syracuse University Honors Program Capstone Projects at SURFACE. It has been accepted for inclusion in Syracuse University Honors Program Capstone Projects by an authorized administrator of SURFACE. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. 1 © (Katherine Barymow 2017) 2 Abstract The Syrian crisis in terms of its crimes against humanity has surpassed most politicians’ wildest expectations: it seems that with every passing news cycle the west is informed of new atrocities commited against innocent Syrian civilians, in addition to violence perpetrated by Syrian Islamists themselves against westerners in ill-advised cries for help. The extent of bloodshed can be both horrifying and mystifying to the average American. How is it possible that the international community allows these crimes to proliferate and self-perpetuate in this modern day-in-age? Hearts sink with every image of a child in dire straights as a result of this man-made catastrophe, with more organizations donating to the Syrian plight than ever before; however, westerners to a very valid extent are starting to believe that they are throwing pennies down an endless abyss of despair and irrepaiable damage to the Syrian people, political system and urban fabric.