A comparative analysis on violent non-state actors in the Syrian civil war: Daesh and Nusra Front

The influence of violent non-state actors (VNSAs) in regional politics as independent actors started with the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan in the early 2000s. This transformation has become evident in the conflicts in the region after the Arab Spring. VNSAs have started to steal a role from states in international relations by becoming local partners. VNSAs also turned into main reasons for some military interventions in near future. On the other hand Syrian civil war, the bloodiest conflict of last 20 years, has led VNSAs to become undeniable actors in regional politics and to appear as natural partners for regional policies. In this thesis, Daesh and al-Qaeda (Nusra Front) are discussed as a case while comparing VNSAs over their types, capacities and identities. Discussions on the classification and evaluation of VNSAs were used to define Daesh and Nusra Front deeply. The events on the battlefield during the time period covered in the thesis (2013-2016) and the actions of the Daesh and Nusra Front in this process were discussed as historical background. The competitive behavior of VNSAs has been revealed by considering the influence race between Daesh and Nusra Front in the context of relations with foreign fighters and other actors in the region. While the terrorist identity and VNSA capacities are handled through by using of the official propaganda contents and statements of Daesh and Nusra Front as source, the literature on these organizations from different perspectives has also been used. This study, which deals with the different aspects of Daesh and Nusra Front, aimed to make in-depth profiles of the two groups, to analyze the relationship between them and to reveal the differences between them. Thus, it is aimed to make a contribution that will add depth to the literature, despite thetrend that treats Daesh and Nusra Front as equivalents of each other.