The collapse of the Assad regime is NOT an event in the West's domestic culture war. We're so polarised that we now treat international events as though they weren't real. This is a real story affecting real people with Syrian and global drivers of change. - ThreadSky

vladvexler.bsky.social • 86 days ago

The collapse of the Assad regime is NOT an event in the West's domestic culture war. We're so polarised that we now treat international events as though they weren't real. This is a real story affecting real people with Syrian and global drivers of change.

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theis76.bsky.social•86 days ago

No, but it IS an event in the international culture war between the liberal democracy of the West and autoritarianism of the East.

dgin21c.bsky.social•86 days ago

I'm not well researched on the topics, so take what I say as low-grade opinion, but I get a sense that there's at least a little neo-Ottoman sentiment at play.

theis76.bsky.social•86 days ago

Well yes and no, there are insane amounts of sentiments and narratives layered onto one another here, there are dozens if not hundreds of factions in play, each with their own story. But as to Erdogans actions the self-image as heir to the Ottoman empire definitely plays a part.

dawoifee.bsky.social•86 days ago

While I can see how this is a defeat for Russia and Iran, it is not necessarily a victory for lieberal democracy.

theis76.bsky.social•86 days ago

The rebels are fighting for their right to self determination and some of them for outright liberal democracy. So far it's 'just' been a defeat for the autoritarians but whether or not it's a victory for democracy still remains to be seen, but the rebellion is an entry in that fight regardless.

tompeschfi.bsky.social•86 days ago

It's much more like the Taliban uprising in Afghanistan, overthowing a secular ruler.

theis76.bsky.social•86 days ago

Anyway, the Taliban and the Mujahedin didn't actually rise up to overthrow a secular government, they rebelled against a Soviet occupation, and succeeded. They were then removed by the US/NATO forces and of course fought on. So from their perspective they've always fought invaders.

theis76.bsky.social•86 days ago

Not really, there's no one single faction with the power of the Taliban, this is a far more mixed picture of interdependent factions, some religious, others secular. Which means that things can get really ugly, but also that there's potential for a solution but on compromise.

vladvexler.bsky.social•86 days ago

that's too simple I'm afraid

theis76.bsky.social•86 days ago

It's by no means the full story, not even the largest part, but whenever a population rises against dictators you have a new entry into that narrative. And this time the autoritarians lost, for now at least, which is a gut punch to Russia and Iran.

h2zwb.bsky.social•86 days ago

But with 1.6 million Syrians (EU) as our neighbours, colleagues and part of our society, aren't we obliged to watch the developments, to include them in our discourse and to take a position? In Germany, the extreme right uses Syrian refugees as an instrument in the culture war.

jgrahn.bsky.social•86 days ago

No, no. Every event must be scored as a win for your team or the other team.

There is no room for nuance.

macpohl.bsky.social•86 days ago

Americans in particular are becoming more myopic in this regard, and DT is a poor ophthalmologist.

giangaleazzo.bsky.social•85 days ago

It's mass narcissism.

antypica.bsky.social•86 days ago

Bill Maher: "Don't make World War 3 all about you" (originally about Ukraine 2 years ago, just as relevant now):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXdzAZvid0E

brunovasquezp.bsky.social•85 days ago

The thing is, the story is not over. The country just shed its old carapace and is in the process of finding its new shape. We don't have enough information to judge this as a good development long term, only that the Syrian people are thankful of the result.

anprovocateur.bsky.social•82 days ago

There's plenty of information.
It's just that most people are biased and don't listen to anything beyond their own belief bubble.

brunovasquezp.bsky.social•85 days ago

Meanwhile, it remains vulnerable to further incursions and influence by its neighboring actors, and now that their common enemy has fallen, internal factions may try to get the biggest slice of the pie. The result of this process of negotiation and restatization will be the true basis for a judgment

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