While the Syrian state’s brutal persecution of its population has been well documented, what is less well understood is the logic behind the violence. An extensive research project undertaken by the European Institute of Peace (EIP) has revealed clear patterns for understanding the violence and lived experiences of citizens across Syria both prior to 2011 and particularly since then. Specifically, the research discovered that the state’s targeting of citizens and communities has been far more explicit than would be expected in a campaign of indiscriminate violence.