The internal-external nexus in moderation processes: how international constraints drove HTS from radicalism to statecraft in Syria.

This article analyzes how religious radical groups strategically moderate their behaviour in response to international constraints, prioritizing pragmatic survival and compliance over ideological purity in pursuit of legitimacy. The central question asks under what conditions pragmatic considerations override ideational factors in shaping the behaviour of such actors in their quest for and exercise of power. The article argues that international isolation and sanctions create incentives for moderation as groups seek survival, legitimacy, and security. This multi-pronged pressure creates tension between power and ideology, particularly in contexts of regime change. The analysis explores how the international system influences moderation, resulting in staged and conditional international recognition. Employing Hayat Tahrir al-Shaam (HTS) as a case-study, the article suggests that its moderation rewarded the former radical group with gradual international acceptance during the post-civil war state-building process in Syria.