Russian intervention in Syria : exploring the nexus between regime consolidation and energy transnationalisation

Maher, DJ; Pieper, MA

Abstract

Interpretations of Russia’s military intervention in Syria overwhelmingly focus on Russia’s
political motivations. An alternative view foregrounds Russia’s economic motivations, namely,
the construction of a multi-billion-dollar gas pipeline traversing Iran, Iraq and Syria. This
article examines the salience of Russia’s economic motivations and considers two related
aspects: First, if Russian intervention aims to secure areas of strategic importance for the
proposed pipeline. Second, if Russian intervention realises longer term political and
commercial interests that include proposed future pipeline projects. The evidence suggests
Russian military policies towards Syria are unlikely to be motivated primarily by the prospect
of a proposed gas pipeline, but that regime consolidation is a more immediate policy goal. This
article then posits that Russian intervention has a distinct ‘dual logic’ aimed at integrating the
interests of key regional actors into a transnational energy network, while stabilising Russia’s
regional dominance within this network.

Citation

Maher, D., & Pieper, M. (2021). Russian intervention in Syria : exploring the nexus between regime consolidation and energy transnationalisation. Political Studies, 69(4), 944-964. https://doi.org/10.1177/0032321720934637

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 22, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Jul 15, 2020
• Publication Date: Nov 1, 2021
• Deposit Date: Jun 16, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 16, 2020
• Journal: Political Studies
• Print ISSN: 0032-3217
• Electronic ISSN: 1467-9248
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Volume: 69
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 944-964
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0032321720934637
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/0032321720934637
• Related Public URLs: https://uk.sagepub.com/en-gb/eur/political-studies/journal202479