Ali Davtalab; Seyed Mohammad Ali Taghavi; Mohsen Khalili; Vahid Sinaei
Abstract
This study examines the internal causes of the Syrian crisis from the perspective of the development of ethnic and religious relationships in the country. the research question is: how the Syrian government's ethnic-religious policies have affected the ethnic-religious relations in this country, leading ...
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This study examines the internal causes of the Syrian crisis from the perspective of the development of ethnic and religious relationships in the country. the research question is: how the Syrian government's ethnic-religious policies have affected the ethnic-religious relations in this country, leading to the current crisis. This research covers the period beginning from the collapse of the Ottoman Empire until 2018. The research method is historical and its theoretical framework is the "Ethnic Policy Patterns" presented by Martin Marger. According to this framework, the Syrian government's ethnic-religious policy during the French mandate was “unequal pluralism” aimed at further accentuating the differences between the ethnic-religious minorities and the Syrian Sunni Arabs majority in order hinder Syrian independence championed by Sunni Arabs nationalists. Ethnic-religious policies of the governments during the period of independence were also based on cultural and structural “assimilation” in favor of the Sunni Arab majority. the kurds became subject to expulsion and extermination both physically and culturally. The “unequal pluralism” policy of the French guardian government and the “assimilation” policy of the independent era, despite their different goals, have moved in the same direction, and had the same results. The profound cultural and structural effects of these policies have created a continual sense of suspicion, distrust, and feeling of danger among ethnic-religious groups. This has led to the continuation and intensification of ethnic-religious disputes and conflicts in the country that ultimately brought about the current crisis and the ongoing full-scale war.
Seyed Mohammad Ali Taghavi
Abstract
The European Union in its policy declarations states that the respect for human rights is a requirement in its internal and external relations. For instance, accession of European countries to the Union, enjoying its services, and even signing an agreement with non-members is dependent on the observation ...
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The European Union in its policy declarations states that the respect for human rights is a requirement in its internal and external relations. For instance, accession of European countries to the Union, enjoying its services, and even signing an agreement with non-members is dependent on the observation of human rights. In this paper, the position of human rights in the European Union legal system is explored. The Human rights regime in the EU consists of four strands: EU Treaties, the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU, the jurisprudence of the European Court of Justice, and the European Convention on Human Rights to which the Lisbon Treaty requires accession, but has not been finalised so far. Given the significance of the latter, it is necessary to expedite the accession of the EU to the Convention. Although, the Convention is referred to in the EU legal system and particularly in the European Court of Justice’ jurisprudence, the accession will institutionalise the status of the Convention in the legal system, and authorises an external entity to observe the respect for human rights in the EU functioning. Nevertheless, there seems to be a lacuna concerning human rights within EU institutions, as for instance, there is not sufficient regard for social and economic rights. Moreover, it is necessary for the above-mentioned strands to work together in a coherent and comprehensive regime.
