Syria

What the civil war in Syria has exposed is that the massive political and social transformation, and real regime change under way is led by people themselves. US military involvement serves only to escalate the destruction.

There is not a lot that can be done for the Syrian conflict from outside except keep the U.S. out of Syria militarily and provide moral support for the nonviolent, democratic opposition.

Many forces are at play in the Syrian uprising. Who are they and how are they connected?

Outside powers should stop military involvement in the Syrian crisis and support new diplomatic initiatives.

Events in Libya and Syria have again brought the legitimacy of armed humanitarian intervention and so-called “responsibility to protect” into question.

Multimedia

Audio Files: 

Podcast: International responses to the Arab Spring

Middle East scholars join TNI fellows in a unique and fascinating discussion of the context of the democracy uprisings in the Middle East and the way it may shape the region for future generations.

Obama's speech on the Middle East and North Africa missed the point of the Arab uprising, and offered little sign of conciliation or support for the Palestinians.

Location

Speakers from across the Middle East and Europe discuss the wave of social unrest across the wider region; what do these struggles have in common? What opportunities are there for building solidarity between movements across the Mediterranean?

A recent comparison by top foreign policy thinkers in the US reveals the not so pro-democratic thinking that also goes on in Washington, referring to the emancipatory movements of the Arab Spring as a improbable "worst-case scenarios."

Phase one of the Arab spring is over. Phase two – the attempt to crush or contain genuine popular movements – has begun.