Hierarchies of Victimhood in the Syrian Civil War: Who Gets Seen, Helped, and Believed? | RISE Research

This paper examines how victims of the Syrian Civil War are recognized, represented, and included within humanitarian, legal, and media systems, arguing that these systems, though often studied separately in existing scholarship, interact to collectively shape who is seen, helped, and believed as a victim. Using a qualitative research design, the author analyzed academic literature, human rights reports, policy papers, and transitional justice frameworks related to Syria through thematic and discourse analysis, examining patterns in victim classification, visibility, humanitarian aid distribution, media representation, and inclusion in future justice processes. The findings show that recognition is not determined by suffering alone: victims who receive greater media visibility tend to also become more visible within humanitarian and legal/justice discussions, while those whose experiences don't fit dominant, emotionally compelling narratives receive comparatively less attention and support, drawing on scholarship (Fassin, Ticktin) showing humanitarian systems favor victims who appear innocent, vulnerable, and non-political, which helps explain why women and children are disproportionately featured in humanitarian campaigns. The paper also identifies a disconnect between institutional definitions of victimhood, which are often inconsistent and shaped by political and legal priorities (per Al-Omari's analysis of Syria's fragmented transitional justice landscape), and how many Syrians understand their own experiences, with some identifying as survivors, activists, or community members rather than accepting the institutional 'victim' label. The paper concludes that victim recognition should be understood as an ongoing, multi-system process rather than a single institutional decision, and calls for future research using interviews and firsthand testimonies to capture how Syrians themselves understand recognition, as well as studies tracking how recognition evolves as Syria moves toward longer-term accountability and reconciliation efforts.