Crash of Aircraft Caused by ISIS? – Intro to International Relations

Earlier this week, news reports stated that the crash of Russian Metrojet Flight 9268 was potentially due to an explosive device that ISIS had planted on the plane. Officials believe that ISIS members may have gotten the device on board by putting it in their luggage. Many countries surrounding the crash have delayed or canceled flights, fearing that another attack might happen, as ISIS continues threatening Russia.

ISIS is known as one of the rebel groups in Syria, fighting against the government under Assad. For years, there has been a strong alliance between the leaders of Syria and Russia (Assad and Putin, respectively). Recently, Russian forces under Putin were responsible for attacking, through airstrikes, areas of Syria where members of ISIS inhabit. Whether or not this ISIS attack was an immediate reaction to the airstrikes or not, it still deeply worsened the division.

The constant attacks that occur between ISIS and Assad’s government/alliances represent characteristics related to the school of thought realism. Because both groups continuously keep attacking one another in Syria, it shows how they want to keep building their power until one reaches the top. In the realist theory, countries rely on self-interest and attaining as much power as possible so other states fear them. States want to achieve dominance. In the case of Syria, both ISIS and the government under Assad want to dominate the country, increasing tensions and affecting the world.

The crisis in Syria both directly and indirectly affects countries worldwide. Many innocent people in Syria are fleeing to neighboring countries or are even making the dangerous trips to countries in Europe, such as Greece. It also affects countries such as the United States because Obama recently has gone back on his word and made the decision to send in about 50 special operations units to oversee the situation. There is a lot of controversy over this issue because many question whether the United States should become involved at all.

Elle S says:

November 10, 2015 at 1:12 pm

I thought this article was very interesting. I agree that the plane crash being caused by ISIS reveals realist schools of thought. The idea of “power” that this event has given ISIS purely based on the fact that it is an intimidation tactic in the international arena.