Syrian Displacement and the International Order

Syria’s war was not caused by the international community but rather was the product of deep-seated political and economic factors endemic to the region and specific actions taken by the Bashar al-Assad regime and various insurgent groups. While the war has been abetted by international actors who have supplied arms and fighters to all sides of the conflict, it is important to underscore that the roots of the conflict are mostly internal. Similarly, the displacement of one-half of Syria’s population was not caused by the international community. But as the war and the resulting displacement pose a threat to international