Western Policy Towards Syria Applying Lessons Learned

Divided into two main parts, [this paper] begins by presenting the Western policy community with lessons from the trajectory of the Syrian conflict to date -- lessons fundamental to an effective fight against extremism in Syria and, more broadly, to the chances of reaching a settlement. The second part of the paper reviews, in turn, six 'inflection points' in the conflict that inform the policy parameters. These represent key developments that have contributed to the current military-political balance in Syria, and that will need to be taken into account in future policy deliberation. The aim of this section is not only to explore the rationale for -- and provide context and background to -- the authors' proposals for improving Western policy effectiveness in Syria. It also offers a necessarily detailed analysis of the conflict's complexities and dynamics over time, taking into account the evolving composition, alignment, tactics and/or priorities of its principal actors.