Beyond Sectarianism: Reexamining Druze Minority Behaviour During Syrian Civil War, 2011–2024

Sectarianism remains a popular framework through which the Syrian civil war is interpreted. Within it, ethno-religious minorities are viewed as unitary actors whose political conduct follows from sectarian belonging. This article tests that assumption against the Druze community, reexamining their political behaviour between 2011 and 2024 across four Syrian regions. Drawing on interviews and media analysis, it shows that Druze responses to the conflict diverged sharply both between and within these regions, often contradicting one another. In doing so, the article points to the limitations of sectarian explanations and argues for a context-sensitive approach to analysing minority political behaviour.