Examining the Crisis in Syria

Over the past three years, popular political protests in Syria led to mass state repression and the country’s descent into a devastating civil war. Over 190,000 people have been killed, countless more injured, and entire towns demolished. Nearly half of Syria’s 22 million people had fled their homes, either as refugees or internally displaced persons. The human cost of this conflict is extraordinary and the world’s great powers remain divided on coordinated international action, even as the situation has expanded to become a major regional conflict.

For some time, public U.S. debate and discussion on the Syrian crisis has been limited and presented in a binary fashion, as a choice between robust military action or marked disengagement. Then, in mid-2014, as the conflict significantly impacted Iraqi national security, the U.S. and a collection of allies began a series of focused military activities. The situation remains uncertain and there is a lack of consensus regarding U.S. policy objectives and strategy regarding the crisis in Syria.

This conference brings together experts on international law, the documentation of atrocities in Syria, reporting on the conflict, engaging social media, assessing the humanitarian and psychosocial impact of the war, and imagining more comprehensive solutions.

Conference panelists and moderators include: Peter Baker, White House Correspondent for the New York Times; Alexandra Brosnan, International Rescue Committee; Rajiv Chandrasekaran, Associate Editor, Washington Post; David Crane, Syracuse University School of Law; Jennifer Daskal, American University School of Law; Megan Price, Human Rights Data Analysis Group; George Sabra, President of the Syrian National Council; Randa Slim, Middle East Institute; Jim Zogby, Arab American Institute, with a keynote address from Amb. (ret) Robert Ford.

Following the conference is an evening debate on U.S. policy in Syria hosted by ASU's McCain Institute for International Leadership at ASU.

Click here for more information on the McCain Institute Debate.

Please also note that live streaming will be available for all portions of the conference. Links and information on how to watch the conference live will be accessible on the event webpage by January 14.

Event Program

8:30-9:00 am
Registration Opens

9:00-9:15 am
Welcome Remarks

Peter Bergen, New America
Daniel Rothenberg, Arizona State University

9:15-10:30 am
Atrocities, International Law, and Accountability

Moderated by Daniel Rothenberg

This panel outlines the current data and patterns regarding atrocities committed in the Syrian crisis and analyzes these events in relation to international human rights and humanitarian law along with a review of current and future efforts to ensure accountability for these violations.

Megan Price, Human Rights Data Analysis Group
David Crane, Syracuse University School of Law
Jennifer Daskal, American University
George Sabra, Syrian Democratic People's Party and the Syrian National Council

10:40-11:55 am
Media Portrayal of the Crisis

Moderated by Peter Bergen This panel provides an overview of how the Syrian crisis has been covered by the U.S. and international media.

Hannah Allam, McClatchy Newspapers
Peter Baker, New York Times
Rajiv Chandrasekaran, Washington Post
Honey Al Sayed, Syrian journalist

12:05-1:05 pm
Luncheon Keynote Address by Ambassador Robert Ford, U.S. Ambassador to Syria, retired and Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute

1:15-2:40 pm
Regional Humanitarian Crisis and Policy Responses

Moderated by Leila Hilal

This panel reviews the scope of the regional humanitarian crisis, considering issues of refugees, internally displaced persons, the situation of women and children, and the psychological impact of the conflict and considers current policy responses.

Alexandra Brosnan, International Rescue Committee
Farah Atassi, National Syrian Women's Association
Kelly Clements, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration
Oubai Shahbandar, Former U.S. Department of Defense Analyst
David Kilcullen, Caerus Global Solutions

2:55-3:55 pm
What Can Be Done?

Moderated by Jorce Karam

This panel considers a number of specific policy actions to address the crisis in Syria, including strategies of regional political coordination and military action.

Jim Zogby, Arab American Institute
Thomas O. Melia, U.S. Department of State
Barak Barfi, Research Fellow, New America Aaron Y. Zelin, The Washington Institute

4:00 pm
Concluding Remarks at FHI 360

5:00 pm

McCain Institute Debate Begins

Team 1:

Andrew Tabler, Senior Fellow, The Washington Institute
Mike Doran, Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute

Team 2:

Aaron David Miller, Vice President for New Initiatives and Distinguished Scholar, The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Joshua Landis, Director of the Center for Middle East Studies and Associate Professor, The University of Oklahoma College of International Studies

Moderated by Elise Labott, CNN

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the members of the ASU and New America teams who are helping to support this event. We would also like to especially acknowledge and thank the Syrian American community in Phoenix, Arizona who have helped to advise the event.

For more information or to learn ways to support the conference, please contact Kathryn Scheckel, Office of the President, Arizona State University by email at Kathryn.Scheckel@asu.edu.