TTLV: The Russian Federation and the civil war in Syria from 2011 to present

MASTER'S THESIS INFORMATION

1. Student's full name:Nguyen Duc Hau

2. Gender: Male

3. Date of birth: January 12, 1983.

4. Place of birth: Nam Dinh.

5. Student recognition decision No. 3683/2015/QD-XHNV-SDH dated December 31, 2015 of the President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

6. Changes in training process: No.

7. Thesis topic name:The Russian Federation and the civil war in Syria from 2011 to present.

8. Major: International Relations Code: 60.31.02.06

9. Scientific instructor:Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Duong Huan, Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam.

10. Summary of thesis results:

Since the time of the "Arab Spring" revolution and the complicated and prolonged developments of the civil war in Syria, there have been many articles and research topics on this topic. However, up to now, most of the documents have only provided a general assessment of Russia's role in the Middle East or Russia's attitude/policy in the civil war in Syria. There have been no documents or research works that have systematically and long-term analyzed Russia's continuous role in the civil war in Syria from 2011 to the present. This thesis has assessed the essence of Russia's policy towards the civil war in Syria, especially its intentions, successes, limitations and impacts on the region and the world of policy implementation.

- In the section on the civil war in Syria, the thesis highlights the characteristics of the civil war in Syria compared to conflicts in other countries in the context of the "Arab Spring", thereby pointing out the internal and external causes of the civil war, the profound impacts of the civil war on the internal situation, foreign relations of Syria, as well as the consequences for both the region and the world.

- Regarding the attitude and policy of the Russian Federation towards the civil war in Syria, the thesis has deeply analyzed the subjective and objective factors affecting Russia's policy as well as the implementation process, the results achieved and the impact of this policy on the developments in Syria, the regional situation, the balance of power, and the stances, viewpoints and actions of the parties involved. At the same time, the thesis also focuses on forecasting the prospects for resolving the conflict in Syria and the roles of the parties directly and indirectly involved in the conflict, in which the focus is on analyzing and clarifying the role and implementation of Russia's policy in the coming time.

11. Practical application:

The crisis in Syria is a sensitive issue in international relations. With the current complicated developments, the Syria issue and the roles and policies of the parties involved will continue to be discussed at many forums of the United Nations. Therefore, the research and analysis of the situation is of great significance in serving foreign affairs, advising on diplomatic behavior and orienting information and propaganda work, avoiding affecting the long-term interests of Vietnam in Syria and the region. In addition, the thesis is a useful reference for teaching and researching international relations at international relations training institutions.

12. Further research directions:

The conflict in Syria has not yet ended. Although there have been positive developments, it is predicted that the conflict will not end soon due to the tug of war between the parties directly involved as well as complicated external impacts. The situation in Syria and the policies and practical actions of Russia and other countries continue to require objective and multi-dimensional assessments and analyses to clarify the nature of the conflict and the roles of the parties, especially Russia, the US, the West and the countries in the Middle East.

13. Published works related to the thesis: None.

INFORMATION ON MASTER'S THESIS

1. Full name: Nguyen Duc Hau 2. Sex: Male.

3. Date of birth: January 12, 1983 4. Place of birth: Nam Dinh.

5. Admission decision number: 3683/2015/QD-XHNV-SDH, dated December 31, 2015 of Rector of University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University.

6. Changes in academic process: None.

7. Official thesis title: Russian Federation and civil war in Syria from 2011 to present.

8. Major: International Relations Code: 60.31.02.06

9. Supervisors: Deputy Prof, Dr. Vu Duong Huan

10. Summary of the findings of the thesis:

Since the main uprisings and complex, prolonged conflicts of “Arab Spring” in Syrian civil war, many articles have been published and researches have been done with regard to this topic. However, the majority of such publications are limited to the general evaluation of the role that Russia played in the Middle East or the reaction towards/ the policies of Russia regarding the civil war in Syria and there are yet any documents and researches assessing the actual and long-term continuous role of Russia in Syrian civil war from 2011 until present. The thesis determines Russia's actual policies in Syrian civil war, especially the intention, success and constraints, impacts on the region, the world of the implementation of such policies.

- In terms of Syrian civil war, the thesis points out the aspects of the civil war in Syria in contrast with the conflicts in the other countries during the “Arab Spring”. As a result it reveals the rationales in and beyond the civil war, considerable impacts of the civil war on the internal affairs, external relations of Syria and the serious outcomes to the region and across the globe.

- With regard to the reactions, policies of Russia towards the Syrian civil war, the discussion discussed the objective and subjective aspects which affect the Russia's policy and the execution process, the achievements and influences of such policies to the series of events in Syria, the entire region, force interaction, and perspectives, actions of the related parties. Additionally, the thesis concentrated on the projection of solutions for the insurgencies in Syria together with the significance of the direct and indirect parties involved in the crisis, prominently focusing on the assessment of the role of Russia's policies playing in the future times.

11. Application probability in reality:

The outcry in Syria is considered as a sensitive issue in international relations. In the scenario of complex situation these days, civil war in Syria, the significance and the policies of the related parties are sure to be discussed further in United Nations forums. Hence, the research and assessment of the situation is of fundamental role in terms of external relations, diplomacy matters and orientation for propaganda so as to prevent any conflict of interest of Vietnam in Syria and in the region in the long term. Furthermore, this thesis is referred to as helpful document for reference in giving lectures and doing research within the international relations field at institutions training in the international relations sector.

12. Further research suggestions:

The progress of conflict in Syria till now is yet to end, though positively recovered, the forecasts indicate that the conflict will not be ended soon due to the benefit of the oppositions of conflicted parties directly involved as well as the complicated outward influenced. The situation in Syria and the actual policies under execution of Russia and other countries are still under demand of objective assessment, different angle of analysis in order to clarify the nature of the insurgencies and the roles that parties play, especially Russia, the United States of America, the Western and the nations in the Middle East.

13. Unveiled documents relating to the thesis: None.