Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson claim that Syria's vast economic equality and ethnic political system precludes any negotiated settlement:
Because the ruling elite in Syria is more monolithic and more likely to be swept aside when its tight grip is loosened, there was always less room for [an Egyptian-style] managed transition. And once the choice was made for using overwhelming force, any small possibility of a negotiated settlement that existed disappeared, and the cleavages in Syrian society became even deeper.
The Dish 
