Shaking the Military Pillar of Regime Support: A Closer Look at the Factors Influencing Military Defections during the Revolutions in Egypt, Libya, and Syria during the Arab Spring Movement

Authors

Sarah Kruger

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Date

2013

Disciplines

International Relations | Political Science

Abstract

Using Egypt, Libya, and Syria as primary case studies, this project qualitatively analyzes the recent uprisings in each of these nations with focus on what factors influenced soldiers to defect. Paying specific attention to the role of the international community, the power of nonviolent tactics, the influence of ethnic and religious divisions, and examining what happens when the opposition forces turn violent, these decisions by military personnel are deconstructed by analyzing their triggers. While the topic of military defections is a fairly new focus in revolutionary studies, this research serves as a talking point and gives insight into where future research could occur.

Comments

Approved by: Jeffery Anderson, Kelly Kraemer, Manju Parikh, Christi Siver, Scott Johnson, Ron Pagnucco.

Recommended Citation

Kruger, Sarah, "Shaking the Military Pillar of Regime Support: A Closer Look at the Factors Influencing Military Defections during the Revolutions in Egypt, Libya, and Syria during the Arab Spring Movement" (2013). Honors Theses, 1963-2015. 10.
https://digitalcommons.csbsju.edu/honors_theses/10