This book is the first to offer a comprehensive survey of Moscow's foreign policy interests in Syria. The author considers the Kremlin's diplomacy on Syria within the broader system of Russian foreign policy in the Middle East; he analyses the influence of Russian domestic dimensions on Moscow's approaches to the subject; and he considers how Moscow's priorities in Syria have evolved during the last five years and what factors influenced this evolution. Key factors considered include : Russian presence in the Middle East before and after the fall of the Soviet Union ; The challenge of the 'Arab Spring' ; Why it was so important to save Assad ; How serious is the jihadist threat for Russia? ; Russian military involvement in the Syrian conflict : what will be the outcome? ; Significance of Moscow's military intervention in the wider Middle East context. -- From the back cover.

Russian Presence in the Middle East after the Fall of the Soviet Union --The Disaster Called the Arab Spring -- Putin's Turn to the Middle East after 2012 -- Why is Syria so Important? Moscow's Vision of its Tasks in Syria prior to the Beginning of Russian Military Deployment -- Russian Military Involvement in the Syrian Conflict: What Happens Next? -- The Marriage of Convenience: Russian-Iranian Cooperation in Syria -- Syria, the Middle East and Russian Propaganda.