Print

Russian “Security Matrix” in Syria

69
Rubric: Greater Middle East
DOI: 10.20542/0131-2227-2023-67-1-80-89
EDN: GEMIXI
I. Matveev, iamatveev@mail.ru
Institute of Oriental Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences, 12, Rozhdestvenka Str., Moscow, 107031, Russian Federation.
PDF (RUS)

Received 05.09.2022. Revised 17.10.2022. Accepted 20.10.2022.

Abstract. The article reviews importance of seeking new formats and modalities (political-military, social, economic, and ideological) to achieve a long-term solution to the Syrian conflict. Until now, Russia remaining a major ally of official Damascus has not fully used its potential to create favorable conditions for the post-conflict recovery of Syria. By the Syrian case, the author puts forward a hypothesis about genesis of the “security matrix” which is embodied by regiments of the Russian military police deployed across the country. In addition to routine security functions, those people – often at risk to their lives – have been performing peacekeeping, humanitarian, economic, and diplomatic tasks. Such activities including facilitation of local reconciliations create new post-conflict realities of social life. Absence of a notion of the “security matrix” in political economy and diplomacy explains the novelty of the present research. The article also contains an attempt to present both a schematic image and description of the “security matrix” as a pattern of behavior whereas multiple functions carried out by the Russian military contribute to launching national mini-dialogues, strengthening public order and security as well as to improving the humanitarian and economic situation. A SWOT-analysis serves as the optimal proof of the mentioned hypothesis. In conclusion, the author outlines continued dependency of the “security matrix” on internal and external factors. At the same time, he speaks about perspective use of the Syrian experience in formulating Russian peace-building strategies to resolve other conflicts. This in turn might contribute to strengthening Russia’s role in international relations.

Keywords: Syria, “security matrix”, military police, local reconciliations, humanitarian relief, SWOT-analysis


REFERENCES

1. Semenov A.V. Russian etymological online dictionary. (In Russ.) Available at: https://lexicography.online/etymology/semyonov/%D0%BC/%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%86%D0%B0 (accessed 28.08.2022).

2. Matveev I.A. Syria’s future can be built by the Russian security matrix. Vzglyad, 21.02.2022. (In Russ.) Available at: https://www.google.com/amp/s/vz.ru/amp/opinions/2022/2/21/1144761.html (accessed 12.08.2022).

3. Polanyi K. The Livelihood of Man. New York, San Francisco, London, Academic Press, 1977. 259 p. Available at: http://digamo.free.fr/polalive.pdf (accessed 02.08.2022).

4. North D. Institutions, institutional change and economic performance. Moscow, Foundation of Economic Books “Nañhala”, 1997. 180 p. (In Russ.) Available at: http://cee-moscow.com/doc/izd/North.pdf (accessed 02.08.2022).

5. Kirdina S.G. About the institutional matrices: theses of the theory. (In Russ.) Available at: http://www.kirdina.ru/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=238 (accessed 02.08.2022).

6. Lapshin A.O. The Russian matrix (introductory remarks). The Russian matrix: myths vs. reality (collection of articles). Vlast’, 2014 (2), pp. 15-65. (In Russ.) Available at: https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/vse-taki-chto-takoe-matritsa/viewer (accessed 02.08.2022).

7. Matveev I.A. The political economy of Syria in conflict. The Difficult Path to Reconstruction. Vol. 2. Kuznetsov V. A., ed. Moscow, Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2022. 392 p.

8. Lenin V.I. The complete works. Vol. 42. 5th edition. Moscow, Publishing House of Political Literature, 1970. 606 p. (In Russ.) Available at: http://www.uaio.ru/vil/42.htm (accessed 06.08.2022).

9. Shawakh A., Nasrollah B., al-Abdallah O., Olwan W. Foreign forces Points in Syria End of 2021 and beginning of 2022. Istanbul, Jusoor Center for Studies, 27.12.2021. Available at: https://jusoor.co/details/Foreign%20Forces%20Points%20in%20Syria%20End%20of%202021%20and%20Beginning%20of%202022/999/en (accessed 09.07.2022).

10. Fainberg S. Russian spetsnaz, contractors and volunteers in the Syrian conflict. Paris, IFRI, 2017. 33 p. (In Russ.) Available at: https://www.ifri.org/sites/default/files/atoms/files/fainberg_spetsnaz_2017.pdf (accessed 13.08.2022).

11. Surkov N.Y. Russian military police in Syria: function and prospects. Discussion papers of the workshop “The emerging security dynamics and the political settlement in Syria”. Syracuze, Italy, 18–19.10.2018. 6 p. (In Russ.) Available at: https://dam.gcsp.ch/files/2y10taGNdZ1sSDiH2F4DjPf3eoz6GWAtnZGgsarEOPf9zdDphO6UuRS (accessed 13.08.2022).

12. Plotnikov N.D., ed. The humanitarian operation of the Russian Army in Syria. Moscow, Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2019. 41 p. (In Russ.) Available at: https://book.ivran.ru/f/gumoperaciara.pdf (accessed 16.08.2022).

13. al-Shami I. Mapping Russian soft power: How coastal Syrians Engage with Russia. Washington, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy – Fikra Forum, 26.05.2022. Available at: https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/mapping-russian-soft-power-how-coastal-syrians-engage-russia (accessed 14.08.2022).

14. Ghanem J. National reconciliations in Syria: a front of balance on the battlefield. Al Mayadeen, 28.04.2022. (In Arab.) Available at: https://mdn.tv/6eam (accessed 14.08.2022).

15. Lubold G., Gordon M. Russian Escalations in Syria Risk Direct Conflict with U.S., military officials warn. The Wall Street Journal, 17.06.2022. Available at: https://www.wsj.com/articles/russian-escalations-in-syria-risk-direct-conflict-with-u-s-military-officials-warn-11655504591?mod=hp_lead_pos9 (accessed 15.08.2022).


SOURCES

1. Putin: formula “Russian the first, then representative of an ethnicity” is absolutely correct. Interfax, 10.02.2014. (In Russ.) Available at: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.interfax.ru/amp/357194 (accessed 02.08.2022).

2. Decree of the President of the Russian Federation no. 161 dated 25 Mar 2015 (ed. as of 21 Dec. 2020) “Approval of the service regulations of the military police of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and making amendments to certain acts of the President of the Russian Federation”. (In Russ.) Available at: https://www.consultant.ru/document/cons_doc_LAW_177125/063d2967b302e06795709c77e6706b93022b2e9b/ (accessed 08.08.2022).

3. What Is the Coalition? The Global Coalition. Available at: https://theglobalcoalition.org/en/ (accessed 09.08.2022).

4. Map of the Military Bases and Posts of Foreign Forces in Syria. Istanbul, Jusoor Center for Studies, 06.01.2021. Available at: https://jusoor.co/details/Map%20of%20the%20military%20bases%20and%20posts%20of%20foreign%20forces%20in%20Syria/826/en (accessed 09.08.2022).

5. Memorandum of understanding between Turkey and the Russian Federation. (In Russ.) Available at: http://en.kremlin.ru/supplement/5452 (accessed 28.08.2022).

6. Russian military police conducted patrols in two Syrian provinces. RIA Novosti, 03.03.2020. (In Russ.) Available at: https://ria.ru/amp/20191116/1561029229.html (accessed 10.08.2022).

7. Syrian minister: Russia’s actions constituted a new stage of war in Syria. RIA Novosti, 20.10.2015. (In Russ.) Available at: https://ria.ru/20151020/1305217832.html (accessed 12.08.2022).

8. In Syria 1120 settlements joined the reconciliation process. Interfax, 14.01.2017. (In Russ.) Available at: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.interfax.ru/amp/545349 (accessed 12.08.2022).

9. Conference on refugees opened in Damascus. TASS, 11.11.2020. (In Russ.) Available at: https://www.google.com/amp/s/tass.ru/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/9970845/amp (accessed 11.08.2022).

10. Shoigu: Russia will leave three battalions of military police in Syria. Mir 24, 22.12.2017. (In Russ.) Available at: https://mir24.tv/amp/news/16283761 (accessed 13.08.2022).

11. There is absolutely no point to speak about any reduction of Russian forces in Syria. Kommersant, 17.06.2022. (In Russ.) Available at: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.kommersant.ru/amp/5420967 (accessed 13.08.2022).

12. Almost 60 percent of the Russian military police personnel gained service experience in Syria. RIA Novosti, 03.03.2020. (In Russ.) Available at: https://ria.ru/amp/20190218/1550997677.html (accessed 13.08.2022).

13. Russian and Syrian military secured deliveries of the UN humanitarian relief to Idlib. Russia Today, 03.09.2021. (In Russ.) Available at: https://russian.rt.com/world/news/903038-siriya-oon-idlib (accessed 15.08.2022).


For citation:
Matveev I. Russian “Security Matrix” in Syria. World Eñonomy and International Relations, 2023, vol. 67, no. 1, pp. 80-89. https://doi.org/10.20542/0131-2227-2023-67-1-80-89 EDN: GEMIXI

Contents World Eñonomy and International Relations. 2023, vol. 67, no. 1

Comments (0)

Show

No comments

Add comment







Indexed

 

 

 

 

Dear authors! Please note that in the VAK List of peer-reviewed scientific journals, in which the main scientific results of dissertations for the degree of candidate and doctor of sciences should be published for the “MEMO Journal” the following specialties are recorded:
economic sciences:
5.2.5. World Economy.
5.2.1. Economic Theory
5.2.3. Regional and Branch Economics
political sciences:
5.5.4. International Relations
5.5.1. History and Theory of Politics
5.5.2. Political Institutions, Processes, Technologies

 

Current Issue
2025, vol. 69, No. 4
Topical Themes of the Issue:
  • Entrenchment of Neo-Protectionism in Global Economy of 21st Century 
  • Institutional Dynamics of Fiscal Integration in the European Union
  • Factors of Latin American Countries’ Interest in BRICS
  • “China: Bitter Dish with Complex Garnish”
Announcement

Dear authors of the journal!

Please note that the author's copies of the issues in which your texts are published are kept in the editorial office for no more than one year. After this period expires, the editorial office has the right to dispose of unclaimed copies at its own discretion.

 

Submit an Article
Submit an Article
INVITATION FOR PUBLICATION
The Editorial Board invites authors to write analytical articles on the following topics:
  • changes in the processes of globalization in modern conditions
  • formation of the new world order
  • shifts in civilization at the stage of transition to a digital society

The editors are also interested in publishing synthesis articles / scientific reviews revealing the main trends in the development of certain regions of the world - Latin America, Africa, South Asia, etc.

Scientific and Practical Seminar of IMEMO, RIAC
and the MEMO Journal