Understanding the Syrian revolution: Applying the principles of Gustav Le Bon
Thanks to the work of Gustave Le Bon, it is possible to understand that the prevalence of extremism, chaos, criminal incidents, regressive reactions and infighting do not necessarily mean the end of the Syrian revolution. Revolutions themselves are violent occurrences and their benefits only become apparent at a later stage when minds, not hearts are in action. Looking at the…
The Forgotten People of Idlib
From a distance, the Atma camp looks like a giant patchwork quilt: tiny blue and white squares blanketing the rippling hills and mottled fields that define much of Idlib. It is only when you get closer that you realise the squares are, in fact, pitiful plastic tents, home to tens of thousands of internally displaced Syrians caught up in a…
Prosecute Assad to deter war crimes in Ukraine
Watching the horrors unfold in Ukraine, which are currently being replayed every day on our TV screens, I was struck by the similarities with Syria. At the heart of both conflicts lies Vladimir Putin, a man rightly seen to be a criminal war by the international community. Russia's decisive intervention in 2015 to prop up the failed dictatorship of Bashar…
From Syria to Ukraine: Why desperate mercenaries fight for Putin
The involvement of Syrian fighters in the war currently taking place in Ukraine has caught the attention of the international media after President Vladimir Putin appeared to welcome this publicly during a meeting he held with his military advisers. This did not come as a surprise as Syrian mercenaries have previously been used by Russia to support its allies in…
Europe’s Folly
Syrian refugees in Europe – speaking as one of them - are experiencing mixed feelings these days. Europe, for Syrians, is a land of peace that has sheltered them from the ravages of war in their own country. It is a land of economic bliss and stability, where everyone is protected under the umbrella of the welfare state. Europe is…
The Security Council has failed in the primary mission for which it was established
It is conventional wisdom that humankind has reached a common consensus on the need to agree upon certain fundamental laws of governance since the dawn of the concept of society. As people evolved from basic social groupings into politically varied and complex societies, it was very clear that more sophisticated forms of law were needed to keep up with these…
The Syrian Revolution: was it worth it?
The war in Syria has been a disaster for everyone, particularly for the people of Syria, but also for some of the countries that have interfered militarily, like Turkey. The disaster extends to all fronts: humanitarian, social, economic, military and political. Over half a million Syrians have been killed, and more than half of the Syrians have become refugees. Much…
Eleven Years On: The Necessity Of Hope
A few days ago, while observing the tragic events unfolding in Ukraine, I suddenly realized Syrians are veterans, in many ways. Coming from the Latin vetus (old), the term “veteran” broadly describes someone who has done something for so long that they become particularly old/experienced and, therefore...
Syria and the New Political Order: What We should have Learned after 11 Years
It is important to understand that salvation can be only achieved at the hands of the Syrian people themselves
The double standards over foreign fighters
A few years ago, I was given exclusive access to interview a British citizen who had travelled to Syria in 2013 to fight against Bashar Al Assad’s murderous regime. Sufean Mostafa Kamal, who I met inside a high security detention centre just outside the Turkish city of Izmir, told me he had responded to cries for assistance from opposition groups…