A decade of upheaval: The Syria crisis ten years on

March 2021 marks the tenth anniversary of the Syrian revolution that was part of the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings that swept across the Middle East and North Africa. An initial bout of hope of reform and political transformation in Syria gave way to one of the most violent conflicts in modern times, instigated by the Assad regime’s crackdown on peaceful protests.

At this webinar, part of the Chatham House MENA Programme online events series, panellists will reflect on the past decade and critically examine the role of domestic, regional and international actors in the crisis.

• What role has the United States played and what lessons can be learnt from its Syria policy that could inform the new administration’s approach?
• What role has activism played in Syria since the beginning of the revolution?
• How have activists engaged in citizen journalism, civic action and humanitarian aid in the face of violence inflicted by multiple armed actors, from the Assad regime and its allies to various jihadist groups?
• What are the behaviours and motivations of regional actors like Iran, Russia and Turkey who have risen to become key stakeholders in the conflict?
• What have all these factors meant for the UN-led peace process and what a possible scenario out of the crisis might look like?

This webinar is part of the MENA Programme’s Online Events Series and will be livestreamed on the MENA Programme Facebook page.