On 17th October 2014 I took part in Rethink Rebuild‘s conference on the Syria crisis in Manchester. As the first speaker on this second panel, I argue that understanding regional context is key to understanding Syria’s civil war. While Bashar al-Assad’s violent response to peaceful protest may have begun the war, it has been exacerbated and shaped by regional factors. Many of these have their roots in the long term impact of the 2003 Iraq War.
For the first panel, see here.
Christopher Phillips 