Syria between civil and proxy war: the question of terminology

The conflict in Syria erupted into war in 2011 – and so did a war of words to describe it. The so-called Syrian opposition called it ‘revolution’ (thawra), while the Syrian regime instructed the media and its allies to use the word ‘crisis’ (azmah). Both terms allow one group to undermine and de-legitimise the other’s actions, and position themselves as offering the correct public narrative. The people of Syria also strategically deploy words to identify their political affiliation. Nevertheless, at this latter stage it is crucial to call the Syrian conflict what it is: a proxy war between external powers.