The Battle for Syria: International Rivalry in the New Middle East Book by Christopher Phillips

The Battle for Syria: International Rivalry in the New Middle East by Christopher Phillips is an acclaimed book that analyzes the crucial roles external nations played in shaping the Syrian civil war from its very beginning. Contrary to the common view that the conflict started as purely domestic and only later involved foreign powers, Christopher Phillips argues that international factors were a primary influence right from the start. The book explores how a perceived decline of US power in the Middle East created a vacuum, leading to a power struggle in which six key external actors—the United States, Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar—competed for influence in Syria. Drawing on extensive interviews, Phillips details the interests and miscalculations of these nations and how their actions exacerbated and prolonged the conflict.