Q To what extent does either the Syrian war (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. or the sectarian conflict in Iraq (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. reflect competing forces that were present as far back as the emergence of the state system? In other words, how can these current conflicts be better understood by first understanding the historical context? Is it a viable solution to problems rooted partially in the past –in the bringing of the European state system to the Middle East—to dismantle sovereign Iraq or Syria into more functional smaller states? Be sure to explain and justify your response, using what you have learned about the emergence of the state system in the region.