How Syria Changed The World

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

Intervention

20180528

Does the conflict in Syria mean that the ideas of liberal interventionism and the responsibility to protect are now dead? Edward Stourton and guests examine how the West now sees its role when it comes to waging war to protect civilians.

Guests:
Fawaz Gerges, Professor of Middle East Politics and International Relations at the London School of Economics;
Lord Malloch-Brown, former UK government minister and United Nations Deputy Secretary-General.

Researcher: Louise Byrne
Producer: Ben Crighton.

Does the conflict mean that the idea of liberal interventionism is dead?

Documentary series presented by Ed Stourton.

ISIS

20180530

In July 2014, the Muslim cleric Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi addressed his followers as 'caliph', leader of a Muslim nation and successor to the Prophet Mohammed. It was the first time in almost a century that any significant figure in the Islamic world had claimed this ancient title, and it was a dramatic illustration that there was a powerful and terrifying new force in play: the radical Sunni Islamist militant group which calls itself Islamic State. Edward Stourton and guests trace the rapid rise, fall and legacy of the group.

Guests:
Fawaz Gerges, Professor of Middle East Politics and International Relations at the London School of Economics
Patrick Cockburn, journalist and author of 'The Rise of Islamic State; ISIS and the new Sunni revolution'

Researcher: Louise Byrne
Producer: Ben Crighton.

The rapid rise, fall and legacy of the self-styled Islamic State.

Documentary series presented by Ed Stourton.

New World Order

20180601

Edward Stourton and guests consider how the 7-year war has shaped geopolitics in the region and the standing of the big players on the world stage. Did the failure of Kofi Annan's UN peace plan in 2012 mark the beginning of the end of western influence and allow Russia to become the key international player in the Middle East?

Guests:
Fawaz Gerges, professor of Middle East Politics and International Relations at the London School of Economic
Louise Fawcett, professor of International Relations at Oxford University
Financial Times columnist Gideon Rachman

Researcher: Louise Byrne
Producer: Ben Crighton.

Edward Stourton and guests consider how the 7-year Syrian conflict has shaped geopolitics.

Documentary series presented by Ed Stourton.

Refugees

20180529

Edward Stourton and guests trace the course of the biggest refugee crisis since World War Two and consider whether Europe's migrant crisis was a decisive factor in the 2016 Brexit referendum.

Guests:
Fawaz Gerges, Professor of Middle East Politics and International Relations at the London School of Economics and author of 'Making the Arab World - Nasser, Qutb, and the Clash That Shaped the Middle East'
Dawn Chatty, Emerita Professor of Anthropology and Migration at Oxford and author of 'Syria: The Making and Unmaking of a Refuge State'
Financial Times columnist Gideon Rachman
Researcher: Louise Byrne
Producer: Ben Crighton.

Edward Stourton and guests discuss the consequences of Syria's refugee crisis.

Documentary series presented by Ed Stourton.

Sectarianism

20180531

Edward Stourton and guests examine how the deep sectarian divide in Syria has now become entrenched across the Middle East region as the major faultline.

Guests:
Fawaz Gerges, professor of Middle East Politics and International Relations at the London School of Economics
Madawi Al-Rasheed, Saudi Arabia expert and visiting professor at the Middle East Centre of the LSE
Anoush Ehteshami, professor of International Relations at Durham University and a specialist in Iran

Researcher: Louise Byrne
Producer: Ben Crighton.

How the conflict exposed deep sectarian loyalties that run through the Middle East.

Documentary series presented by Ed Stourton.

Episodes

Title	First Broadcast	Comments
Intervention	20180528	Does the conflict in Syria mean that the ideas of liberal interventionism and the responsibility to protect are now dead? Edward Stourton and guests examine how the West now sees its role when it comes to waging war to protect civilians. Guests: Fawaz Gerges, Professor of Middle East Politics and International Relations at the London School of Economics; Lord Malloch-Brown, former UK government minister and United Nations Deputy Secretary-General. Researcher: Louise Byrne Producer: Ben Crighton. Does the conflict mean that the idea of liberal interventionism is dead? Documentary series presented by Ed Stourton.
ISIS	20180530	In July 2014, the Muslim cleric Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi addressed his followers as 'caliph', leader of a Muslim nation and successor to the Prophet Mohammed. It was the first time in almost a century that any significant figure in the Islamic world had claimed this ancient title, and it was a dramatic illustration that there was a powerful and terrifying new force in play: the radical Sunni Islamist militant group which calls itself Islamic State. Edward Stourton and guests trace the rapid rise, fall and legacy of the group. Guests: Fawaz Gerges, Professor of Middle East Politics and International Relations at the London School of Economics Patrick Cockburn, journalist and author of 'The Rise of Islamic State; ISIS and the new Sunni revolution' Researcher: Louise Byrne Producer: Ben Crighton. The rapid rise, fall and legacy of the self-styled Islamic State. Documentary series presented by Ed Stourton.
New World Order	20180601	Edward Stourton and guests consider how the 7-year war has shaped geopolitics in the region and the standing of the big players on the world stage. Did the failure of Kofi Annan's UN peace plan in 2012 mark the beginning of the end of western influence and allow Russia to become the key international player in the Middle East? Guests: Fawaz Gerges, professor of Middle East Politics and International Relations at the London School of Economic Louise Fawcett, professor of International Relations at Oxford University Financial Times columnist Gideon Rachman Researcher: Louise Byrne Producer: Ben Crighton. Edward Stourton and guests consider how the 7-year Syrian conflict has shaped geopolitics. Documentary series presented by Ed Stourton.
Refugees	20180529	Edward Stourton and guests trace the course of the biggest refugee crisis since World War Two and consider whether Europe's migrant crisis was a decisive factor in the 2016 Brexit referendum. Guests: Fawaz Gerges, Professor of Middle East Politics and International Relations at the London School of Economics and author of 'Making the Arab World - Nasser, Qutb, and the Clash That Shaped the Middle East' Dawn Chatty, Emerita Professor of Anthropology and Migration at Oxford and author of 'Syria: The Making and Unmaking of a Refuge State' Financial Times columnist Gideon Rachman Researcher: Louise Byrne Producer: Ben Crighton. Edward Stourton and guests discuss the consequences of Syria's refugee crisis. Documentary series presented by Ed Stourton.
Sectarianism	20180531	Edward Stourton and guests examine how the deep sectarian divide in Syria has now become entrenched across the Middle East region as the major faultline. Guests: Fawaz Gerges, professor of Middle East Politics and International Relations at the London School of Economics Madawi Al-Rasheed, Saudi Arabia expert and visiting professor at the Middle East Centre of the LSE Anoush Ehteshami, professor of International Relations at Durham University and a specialist in Iran Researcher: Louise Byrne Producer: Ben Crighton. How the conflict exposed deep sectarian loyalties that run through the Middle East. Documentary series presented by Ed Stourton.