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change of administration in the United States. It is especially important for Russia to try to reach certain agreements with the new American administration. Although the next U.S. president will have to work with the agenda that Obama has shaped, but the situation with his arrival can radically change for Moscow -and not for the better.
Author of the abstract - N. Ginesina
2017.03.007. GEORGY KUTYREV. ITALY'S POSITION IN THE SYRIAN CRISIS: BETWEEN THE WEST AND RUSSIA //
"Problemy evropeiskoi bezopasnosti", № 2, Moscow, 2017, P. 145-172.
Keywords: Italy, Syria, Russia, Syrian civil war, international relations, Arab Spring, Middle East, IS.
Georgy Kutyrev,
PhD (Political sciences), senior research fellow, the Department of Europe and America INION RAS
In the article the author analyzes the foreign policy position of the Italian Republic in relation to the civil war in Syria, considering the internal and external factors affecting the process of foreign policy making by official Rome. In this context, the author pays special attention to the consequences of the global financial and economic crisis, which turned Italy into one of the most "sick countries" of the European Union.
The author examines the phenomenon of the "Arab Spring" -anti-government movements that took place in Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Jordan, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and other countries of the Middle East. He points out that scientists differed in assessing the factors underlying the phenomenon, noting certain symptoms of the crisis in the Arab world, and proposes dividing the experts' opinions into three large groups.
The first group considers socio-economic factors as reasons for the "Arab spring": economic stagnation, poverty, inequality, corruption and unemployment. The second group believes that the "Arab revolutions" are connected with the spread of "new media", the demographic explosion and the rapid expansion of higher education. The third group believes that the influence of electronic and social media, as well as a number of economic reasons (high unemployment, economic inequality, etc.), is unproven, but inflation and corruption were important for the emergence of revolutionary situations in the Arab countries.
The author writes about the beginning of the government crisis in Syria, highlighting its characteristic features: the division of the population according to the ethno-religious sign; Ethnic composition of the Syrian society; Transformation of the conflict into a local war, and then into an acute global conflict; Involvement in the Syrian conflict of almost all world centers of power, which is connected with the struggle for Syrian energy resources; The Syrian Armed Forces and its allies; The political regime of Asad; Political opposition, New political parties; Armed anti-government groups.
The author also cites the words of one of the experts that at the present stage the Syrian war is a "strange war" and none of the warring parties needs and simultaneously does not need a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Syria now. Besides, the external sponsors of the conflict are not limited in time.
The author notes that 60 states were included in the Global Coalition to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) at the time of this writing. The Italian Republic is one of the most influential members of NATO and active members of the International Coalition. The Italian Republic is one of the most influential members of NATO and active members of the International Coalition.
The author examines Italy's military policy in the context of the armed conflict in Syria. He proposes to pay special attention to the factors that significantly influenced the development of the
country's military-political course: the global financial and economic crisis, NATO and the Atlantic Partnership, the Russian vector of foreign policy.
Referring to the principle of the "path of dependence" that sets the framework for the foreign policy course, the author emphasizes that foreign policy is influenced by the intellectual, cultural and institutional heritage of the past, which imposes a traditional behavioral and organizational imprint on the actions of political forces, which affects the development of the foreign policy course.
The author lists the following constants of Italy's foreign policy:
• The feeling of vulnerability.
• Edge international position
• Asymmetric alliances.
• Deficiency of opportunities.
• Limited interest in international affairs.
• Political science and international relations.
The author writes that, according to the new concept of defense policy of Italy, the focus will be on the "Euro-Mediterranean region", covering the EU countries, the Balkans, the Maghreb, the Black Sea and the Middle East.
The new concept is characterized by the following differences:
• The concept was developed not only by the Ministry of Defense staff, but also by representatives of other ministries, think tanks and universities.
• A departure from the previous course is fixed in the new concept based on the maintaining traditional balance between "Atlanticism" and "Europeanism", in favor of more pragmatic and decisive actions, taking into account the national interests of the country; Clearer priorities have been set for the Ministry of Defense.
•The White Paper 2015 demonstrates Italy's new approach to transatlantic cohesion and European integration.
• Special attention is paid to the reform of the armed forces in the new concept.
The flexibility of the organizational structure of the army is a priority for the reform of the armed forces, for which it was decided to focus on the five main functions of Italy's defensive and combat organizations: political leadership, military-strategic leadership, personnel policy, rapid deployment and support forces.
Since 2015, Italy has been involved in the NATO operation "Resolute Support" in Afghanistan, "Inherent Resolve" in Iraq, in the anti-piracy naval operation "Atlanta" in the Indian Ocean, as well as in various operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kuwait, Egypt, Lebanon, Mali, Serbia, Uganda, Ukraine.
Italy is an important international political actor in the naval operation to combat illegal migration and smugglers (EU NAVFOR MED), launched by the EU as part of a comprehensive response to the humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean.
The author refers to Italy's position on the Syrian crisis. Initially, Italy adhered to a cautious and balanced policy towards Syria protest movements in Syria. The importance of maintaining the "stable and protected from external influences" situation was emphasized, and also confirmed Italy's desire to "support the country on the way of democratic reforms".
After mass protests against B. Asad in 2011, Italy condemned the repression of the regime, and called on Damascus to end the violence, carry out reforms and start a dialogue with the opposition. Italy continually stressed that it followed the EU's course on this issue, but adhered to the idea of a peaceful and gradual transformation of the B. Asad regime, continuing to participate in the coalition against ISIS.
Italy is particularly active in the field of international initiatives for the protection of cultural heritage in Syria, which is under threat of destruction and looting. February 15, 2016 Italy signed with UNESCO a Memorandum on the protection of cultural property in areas of armed conflict, undertaking
obligations within the global coalition "Unite for Heritage" to send groups of experts "Caschi blu della cultura" and groups of carabineros to Syria for the protection of cultural heritage affected by ISIS.
Many factors had an impact on Italy's foreign policy in relation to the Syrian civil war: ISIS control of about 45% of the territory of Iraq; Increasing the flow of refugees; Russia's desire to become the main actor in the settlement of the Syrian crisis.
The author emphasizes that Italy is one of the most important partners of Russia among the EU member states. The Russia-NATO Council was established precisely on the initiative of the Italian side in 2002. Italy ranks third among the EU countries in terms of trade and economic ties with Russia, after Germany and the Netherlands.
Italy called for maintaining a dialogue with Russia throughout the Syrian crisis, since it was impossible to resolve the crisis without Russia's participation. Italy was concerned about the likelihood of chaos in Syria, a similar situation that occurred in Libya. In February 2016, Italy refused to participate in the ground operation in Syria, arguing that it was the second country on the international scene in terms of involvement in international security operations, and also citing the situation in Libya after the overthrow of the regime of M. Gaddafi. Italy and Libya have always been closely connected. Recently, oil and gas deliveries from Libya, providing about 15% of Italy's needs, were under threat, while flows of emigrants from Libya to Italy were endlessly flowing.
In these circumstances, official Rome seeks to enlist the support of Russia to involve it in the settlement of the Libyan situation, while at the same time assisting the United States in the implementation of the peacekeeping mission in Libya, strengthening its status in the world arena. Italy will seek ways to bring together the position of Russia and the United States in the fight against ISIS.
Author of the abstract - E. Dmitrieva
