Vestnik RUDN. International RelationsVestnik RUDN. International RelationsВестник Российского университета дружбы народов. Серия: Международные отношения2313-06602313-0679федеральное государственное автономное образовательное учреждение высшего образования «Российский университет дружбы народов имени Патриса Лумумбы» (РУДН)10782ARTICLESСТАТЬИResearch ArticleSyrian Uprising: Underestimated External Factors. Critical Analysis of an American Approach to the Onset of Insurgency and Civil WarsSyrian Uprising: Underestimated External Factors. Critical Analysis of an American Approach to the Onset of Insurgency and Civil WarsKhlebnikovA LInstitute of International Relations and World Historykhleb001@umn.eduLobachevsky State University of Nizhni Novgorod150320143Middle East: Geopolitics, Energy, “Arab Spring”Ближний Восток: геополитика, энергетика, «арабская весна»394809092016Copyright ©; 2014, Khlebnikov A.L.Copyright ©; 2014, Khlebnikov A.L.2014Khlebnikov A.L.Khlebnikov A.L.https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0https://journals.rudn.ru/international-relations/article/view/10782The article is devoted to the critical analysis of the Fearon and Laitin’s approach to the onset of insurgencies and civil wars, using the case of the Syrian Uprising. It examines the role of external factors which is underestimated by the American scholars.SyriaSyrian uprisingcivil warexternal factorsSyrian regimeSyrian oppositionrebelsrevolutionMiddle EastArab Springthe militarycoercive apparatusRussiaregional actorsmajor powers1.James D. 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