Commentary
Two divergent trends—Putin’s hardline vision of how to prosecute the war in Ukraine, and a growing desire for change in Russia—could tear the regime apart.
Tatiana Stanovaya
{
"authors": [
"Mario Abou Zeid",
"Mamoun Abu-Nowar",
"Kamel Wazne"
],
"type": "legacyinthemedia",
"centerAffiliationAll": "dc",
"centers": [
"Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
"Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center"
],
"collections": [],
"englishNewsletterAll": "menaTransitions",
"nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
"primaryCenter": "Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center",
"programAffiliation": "MEP",
"programs": [
"Middle East"
],
"projects": [],
"regions": [
"Levant",
"Syria",
"Middle East"
],
"topics": [
"Political Reform",
"Security"
]
}
Source: Getty
In The Media
Can Syrian Rebels Unite Against Assad?
An alliance of opposition forces has seized control of a second strategic city from government troops.
Published on Apr 26, 2015
Source: Al Jazeera’s Inside Story
A loose alliance of rebel groups in Syria is claiming a second significant victory against government forces in less than a month. The opposition offensive in northern Idlib province was spearheaded by al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria, Nusra Front. Fighting under the banner, “Army of Conquest,” rebel allies seized control of the provincial capital Idlib at the end of March.
A broader union of fighters says it has now overrun nearby Jisr al Shughur. The city was one of the first places to take up arms against president Assad, when security forces cracked down on protests.
The fight for Idlib province comes ahead of UN-backed talks in Geneva on May 4.
So can opposition groups present a united front in the push for peace? Or will the pursuit of different agendas eclipse the fight against a common enemy? Carnegie’s Mario Abou Zeid spoke with Al Jazeera’s Inside Story.
This interview was originally broadcast by Al Jazeera’s Inside Story.
About the Authors
Mario Abou Zeid
Former Research Analyst, Middle East Center
Abou Zeid was a research analyst at the Carnegie Middle East Center, where his work focuses on political developments in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Iran.
Mamoun Abu-Nowar
Kamel Wazne
Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
More Work from Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center
- Russia Is Approaching a Political Crossroads
- Control Above Reform: What’s Behind Ukraine’s Government and Security Reshuffle?Commentary
Ultimately, Zelensky sided neither with the reform camp nor with the military establishment as such, but with political control.
Balázs Jarábik
- Where Are President Tokayev’s Political Reforms Leading Kazakhstan?Commentary
Tokayev’s predecessor, Nursultan Nazarbayev, outlined arrangements for a power transition too soon and in too much detail, ultimately losing control over the process. Tokayev is determined not to meet the same fate.
Temur Umarov
- What Should We Take From Andrey Melnichenko’s Essay in the Economist?Commentary
Andrey Melnichenko’s essay offers no answer to the fundamental question of how, under any kind of negotiated settlement, Europe can protect itself from the Russian ressentiment that is inevitable in all scenarios except for an outright victory for Putin.
Leonid Bershidsky
- Parliamentary Elections in Occupied Ukraine Risk Backfiring for the KremlinCommentary
Despite unhappiness on the ground, Moscow is determined to use both carrot and stick to ensure there is record support for United Russia in occupied Ukraine.
Konstantin Skorkin
