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British Columbia's Syrian Diaspora's Understanding of Conflict

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British Columbia's Syrian Diaspora's Understanding of Conflict British Columbia’s Syrian Diaspora’s Understanding of Conflict, Peacebuilding and Reconciliation In Post-Peace Accord Syria By Nour-Eddine Maghnaoui A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies of The University of Manitoba in partial fulfillment of the requirement of the degree of MASTER OF ARTS Joint Master’s Program in Peace and Conflict Studies University of Manitoba/University of Winnipeg Winnipeg, MB Copyright © 2019 by Nour-Eddine Maghnaoui Maghnaoui Thesis i Abstract This exploratory qualitative study recruited twelve members of the Syrian refugee diaspora living on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, to explore how they perceive conflict and peace in their homeland, what would constitute sustainable peace in Syria, and how do they intend to contribute to peacebuilding and reconciliation efforts in post-conflict Syria. Since conflict eruption in 2011, the study participants have lost close family members. They incurred various forms of hardships in their journeys of displacement. They expressed their desire to return to their communities in Syria upon the cessation of violence, and the restoration of peace and safety. The participants’ proposed path to sustainable peace and conflict transformation in Syria include a constructive role for regional and external powers in the peacebuilding efforts, and that democratization, the organization of free elections, freedom, the rule of law, equality, and inclusiveness must be embedded in a new peace architecture. Further, to transform the conflict they proposed the inclusion in the peacebuilding process of retribution, forgiveness, communal peacemaking and community trust-building, and educational system reform. The participants’ in-depth conflict analysis and their approaches to transform the conflict provide some interesting insights to build sustainable peace in this violent and divided society. This study contributes to the Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS) literature by highlighting the crucial role of diasporas in peacebuilding and reconciliation efforts, and informing the peacebuilding enterprise policymakers about the necessity to incorporate locals in conflict analysis and transformation processes. Maghnaoui Thesis ii Acknowledgments I would like to recognize and express my utmost gratitude to all those who assisted me in my research journey and completion of this thesis, including, my thesis committee members, my family members, and friends. I would like to express my appreciation to my thesis advisor Dr. Sean Byrne for his tremendous support, encouragement, and constructive feedback that contributed to the success of this thesis. I would also like to extend my gratitude to my thesis committee members, Dr. Michelle Gallant, and Dr. Dean Peachy. Your questions and comments have meaningfully contributed to steer this thesis towards completion. I would also like to thank the staff and my colleagues at the Arthur V. Mauro Centre for Peace and Justice, St. Paul College. Your support, knowledge and company have made my learning experience at the centre memorable. Additionally, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to my dear mother, Faiza, all Maghnaoui family members, Safwan and Nadia Soufan, Julie and Mohamed Boukhouali for their continuous invaluable moral support, kindness and encouragement throughout my extended years of education as an undergraduate and graduate student. Furthermore, I would also like to acknowledge with much appreciation the crucial role of my thesis research participants. The content of this thesis is the outcome of your stories and experiences. Last, but not least, to my caring, loving, and supportive wife, Samaa Soufan: My Deepest Gratitude. Your moral support and encouragement are much appreciated and forever cherished. Maghnaoui Thesis iii Dedication I dedicate this thesis to my father, Omar Maghnaoui, who had immensely supported me, and always inspired me to pursue higher education and utmost levels of integrity. I also dedicate this thesis to my son Elias Maghnaoui. I hope that you and all children in the world live in a peaceful, fruitful and safe environment. Maghnaoui Thesis iv Table of Contents ABSTRACT i ACNOWLEDGMENTS ii DEDICATION iii TABLE OF CONTENTS iv INTRODUCTION 1 Significance of the Study 5 Outline of the thesis 6 Conclusion 8 CHAPTER 1 – HISTORICAL CONTEXT 9 1.1- Introduction 9 1.2- Ethnic Intergroup Relationships under the French Protectorate (1920-1946) 10 1.3- Syria’s Political Dynamics in Post-Independence Syria Period (1946-1970) 12 1.4- Power Struggle in the Post-Independence Period-Era of Military Coups 14 1.5- Assad Dynasty – Rise of Hafez Assad 16 1.6- The Inauguration of Bashar Assad 19 1.7- Climate Change and Conflict in Syria 24 1.8- Arab Spring Uprising- A Desperate Call for Reform and Socioeconomic Justice 27 1.9- Anti-Assad Protests- From a call for Reform to Regime Change 28 1.10- Syria’s Civil War – The Shift from Protests to Armed Struggle 29 1.11- The Human Cost of Syria’s Civil war 30 1.11.1- Pro-Assad Forces Indiscriminate Attacks 31 1.11.2- Use of Chemical Weapons 32 1.11.3- Arbitrary Arrest, Torture, and Death in Custody 33 1.11.4- Assad’s Cover-up Strategy 38 1.11.5- Assad’s External Allies- Guilty by Association 39 1.12- Radical-Terrorist Militant Groups’ War Crimes against Humanity 40 1.13- Non-Terrorist Militant Groups Human Rights Atrocities 42 1.14- Syrian Refugee Crisis: A Humanitarian Crisis with a Global Magnitude 42 1.15- Conclusion 44 CHAPTER 2 – LITERATURE REVIEW 45 2.1- Introduction 45 2.2- Causes of Conflict 46 2.2.1- Social Cubism 46 2.2.2- Collective Identity 49 2.2.3- Human Needs Theory 52 2.2.4- Structural and Direct Violence 53 2.3- Peacebuilding 55 2.3.1- Peacebuilding Paradigms 55 Maghnaoui Thesis v 2.3.2- Neoliberal Peace Approach-Top Down Approach 58 2.3.3- Emancipatory Peacebuilding- Bottom-Up Approach 61 2.3.4- Hybrid Peacebuilding Approach 64 2.3.5- External Intervention and Peacebuilding 65 2.3.6- The Role of Diaspora in Peacebuilding 68 2.4- Conflict Transformation and Reconciliation Theory 72 2.4.1- Indigenous and Local Communal Peacebuilding Approaches 75 2.4.2- The Path To Reconciliation- Judicial and non-judicial Transitional Justice 78 2.4.3-Individual Accountability: Retribution as a Prerequisite for Reconciliation 81 2.4.4- Non-Judicial Route towards Reconciliation and Healing 82 2.4.5- Peace Education’s Contributions to Transformative Change in Post-conflict 86 2.5- Conclusion 89 CHAPTER 3 –RESEARCH METHODS AND METHODOLOGY 91 3.1- Introduction 91 3.2- Recruitment Strategy 91 3.3- Qualitative Research Approach 93 3.4- Semi-Structured in-depth Individual Interviews on Sensitive Topics 95 3.5- Research Questions and Scope of the Study 98 3.6- The Study Participants’ Profiles and Research Sites 100 3.7- Data Analysis: Encoding and Memo Writing 103 3.8- Ethics Commitments 104 3.9- Conclusion 105 CHAPTER 4 – SYRIA BEFORE CONFLICT 106 4.1- Introduction 106 4.2- Syria’s Economic Living Standards 107 4.3- Collective Identity: Intergroup Relationships 111 4.4- Sectarianism As a State Policy 121 4.5- Nepotism, Corruption, and Abuse of Power 125 4.6- Police-State: Political Violence and a Culture of Fear 129 4.7- Arab Spring Uprising: A Desperate Call for Reform 132 4.8- International Politics: Syria as a Battleground of a Proxy War 138 4.9- Key Findings of the Research 143 4.10- Conclusion 150 CHAPTER 5 – THE SYRIAN DIASPORA’S PERCEPTIONS AND AGENCY IN PEACEBUILDING PROCESSES TO BUILD SUSTAINABLE PEACE IN SYRIA 151 5.1- Introduction 151 5.2- Syrian Diaspora’s Perception of Peacebuilding 152 5.3- The Roadmap to Sustainable Peace in Syria 156 5.4- Syrian Diaspora’s Roles in Peacebuilding Efforts 164 Maghnaoui Thesis vi 5.4.1 - Individual Contributions 164 5.4.2 - Syrian Diaspora’s Collective Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding Capacities 168 5.5- External Powers’ Role in Syria’s Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding 174 5.6 - Key Findings of the Research 180 5.7 - Conclusion 187 CHAPTER 6 – SYRIAN DIASPORA’S PERCEPTIONS AND AGENCY IN TRANSFORMATIONAL AND RECONCILIATION PROCESSES 188 6.1- Introduction 188 6.2 - Syrian Diaspora’s Perceptions About Reconciliation 189 6.3- Conflict Transformation and Intergroup Peaceful Relationship Restoration 194 6.4- Syria’s Possible Paths Towards Conflict Transformation 202 6.4.1- Forgetting and Forgiveness As a Way Forward 204 6.4.2- Retributive Transitional Justice 208 6.4.3- Traditional Conflict Resolution Processes 213 6.4.4- Peace Education 218 6.5- Key Findings of the Research 221 6.6- Conclusion 228 CHAPTER 7 – CONCLUSIONS 230 7.1- Introduction 230 7.2 Overall Key Findings 230 7.2.1 - Locals’ Organic knowledge- Locals Pivotal Input in Conflict Analysis and Resolution 231 7.2.2 - The Role of Local Communal Leaders In Peacebuilding Efforts 236 7.2.3 - Relative Peace – Negative Peace- Liminal Peace 237 7.2.4 - Diasporas’ Role in Peacebuilding and Development 239 7.2.5 - Peacebuilding Approaches in Syria 241 7.2.6 - The Role of External Guarantors in Peacebuilding and Reconciliation Processes 243 7.3 Future Research 244 7.4- Conclusion 245 REFERENCES 247 APPENDICES 260 Appendix 1: The Interview Questions 263 Appendix 2: Recruitment Letter of Participants in Master’s Research Project 266 Appendix 3: Recruitment Letter of Participants in Master’s Research Project (Arabic Translation) 268 Appendix 4: Informed Consent Form for Human Subject Participation 270 Appendix 5: Informed Consent Form for Human Subject Participation (Arabic Translation) 277 Appendix 6: Research Ethics Application 283 Maghnaoui Thesis vii Appendix 7: Research Ethics Approval 291 Appendix 8: Research Ethics Renewal Approval 292 Maghnaoui Thesis 1 INTRODUCTION Introduction The anti-Assad protests that spread throughout Syria’s main regions in March 2011 were a continuation of the Arab Spring uprisings that swept the Arab autocracies in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), demanding democratization, socioeconomic justice, freedom, and political reform.
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