Publication

This commentary discusses two popular fictions relating to the Syrian civil war: the clear bifurcation between regime supporters and opponents and the coincidence of this cleavage with sectarian divisions. Identifying lines of difference within the Syrian opposition is not to suggest that integrating these disparate groups is unlikely or imprudent, the author argues. It instead requires that observers confront realistically the complexities of unifying a wide array of political organizations, warns against actions that may exacerbate divisions, and questions the relevance of the Libyan model in the Syrian context.