ISLAMIC STATE OF IRAQ AND LEVANT AND SYRIAN CRISIS: CHALLENGE OR OPPORTUNITY FOR MAJOR POWERS IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Abstract

Syrian crisis and emergence of Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) are the two major developments that have immensely influenced the contemporary Middle Eastern politics. This research focuses on studying state’s behavior to secure its national objectives when a challenge arises. Amongst multiple perspectives of international politics, realism provides basic framework for understanding a state’s behavior to ensure and safeguard its national interest. This paper studies that how regional and extra-regional powers are viewing Syrian crisis and the rise of Islamic State of Iraq and Levant, while using secondary resources of data collection. The study analyzes the standpoint of Iran and Saudi Arabia along with Russia and the United States of America regarding Syrian crisis and ISIL as a challenge or opportunity for the accomplishment of their goals in the region. The study suggests that the realist intentions of regional and extra-regional powers are the primary factors vis-à-vis disturbed geo-political landscape of Middle Eastern region. It is power politics of these powers that has made the region prone to the rise of violent non-state actors, such as Islamic State of Iraq and Levant. In addition to that, where ISIL and Syria Crisis posed a threat to the national interests of major powers in the region, it also provided them an opportunity to fill the power vacuum, and to establish themselves in the region as hegemons.