Religion and the Syrian war : a qualitative research on the role of religion in the Syrian war

Abstract

Religious identity emerged in several stages in the Syrian war. It is vital to consider the role of religion when searching for the causes of this war. The research seeks to answer the question of whether religion was the cause of the Syrian war. The study conducts qualitative research to answer the research question. The data was collected from 21 Syrian refugees in Norway and the mass media as secondary sources. The research discusses four theories into religion and politics to analyze the data, focusing on political authority and foreign intervention and its impact. The research concludes that religion was not a direct cause of the war but played an important role later in manipulating, mobilizing the people, and legitimizing actions.