Over 4000 free audio and video lectures, seminars and teaching resources from Oxford University.
Skip to Content Skip to Navigation

syria

# Episode Title Description People Date
1 Creative Commons The Conflict in Syria, A Personal Story Dr Haytham Alhamwi draws on his personal experiences to explain the story of the conflict in Syria. Haytham Alhamwi 09 Aug 2023
2 Lebanon’s Economic and political crisis Piotr Schulkes, Felix Walker, and Michael Memari cover the ongoing crises in Lebanon’s political and economic systems. Michael Memari, Felix Walker, Piotr Schulkes 09 Feb 2021
3 Why Syria Still Matters and Why Assad is Still There Dr Lina Khatib, Director, Middle East and North Africa Programme, Chatham, Jeremy Bowen (Middle East Editor, BBC News) give a talk on Syria and it's current political situation. Chaired by Professor Eugene Rogan (St Antony's College, Oxford). Lina Khatib, Jeremy Bowen 03 Dec 2020
4 Creative Commons Documenting Crimes in Syria and Iraq: ISIS and the Crimes Against the Yazidis This talk was given as part of the Oxford Transitional Justice Research (OTJR) Seminar Series. Sareta Ashraph 11 Nov 2019
5 A Westphalia for the Middle East? This talk will discuss the parallels between the Thirty Years War and today’s Middle East and suggest ways in which lessons drawn from the congress and treaties of Westphalia. Patrick Milton 01 May 2019
6 The Law and Practice of Cross-border Humanitarian Relief Operations: Syria as Case Study Dapo Akande and Emanuela-Chiara Gilliard from ELAC (Oxford) discuss humanitarian relief in Syria Dapo Akande, Emanuela-Chiara Gilliard 29 Apr 2019
7 FMR 57 - Caring for male and LGBTI sexual violence survivors: learning from local organisations Local organisations responding to the Syrian humanitarian crisis are at the forefront of providing care for both male and LGBTI survivors of sexual violence. Sarah Chynoweth 28 Feb 2018
8 FMR 57 - Refugee youth, unemployment and extremism: countering the myth Refugee youth unemployment has been linked to increased risk of extremism and/or exploitation. Research indicates, however, that unemployment is just one of many factors triggering frustration among young refugees. Drew Mikhael, Julie Norman 27 Feb 2018
9 FMR 57 - Establishing legal identity for displaced Syrians Seven years of conflict have had a serious detrimental effect on many Syrians' ability to prove their legal identity. Martin Clutterbuck, Laura Cunial, Paola Barsanti, Tina Gewis 27 Feb 2018
10 FMR 57 - When is return voluntary? Conditions of asylum in Lebanon The decision of Syrian refugees in Lebanon to return to Syria must not be based on a deteriorating quality of asylum that creates physical, social and material pressures on decisions to return. Amy Keith, Nour Shawaf 27 Feb 2018
11 FMR 57 - Property restitution in post-conflict Syria Although restitution of property should underpin any post-conflict agreement, in Syria this will be a complex exercise. Adherence to the UN’s Pinheiro Principles will be critical. Martin Clutterbuck 27 Feb 2018
12 FMR 57 - Perspectives on the return of Syrian refugees There are many reasons why discussions about the imminent return of large numbers of Syrian refugees are premature. Leïla Vignal 27 Feb 2018
13 Creative Commons Nordic Nationalism and Penal Order: Walling the Welfare State All Souls Seminar, Centre for Criminology, Univeristy of Oxford, 18th January 2018. Vanessa Barker 31 Jan 2018
14 Creative Commons The enemy of my enemy is still my enemy: the polarized media landscape in Syria Rima Marrouch, freelance journalist for Reuters, BBC, CBS, and Al Jazeera, gives a talk for the Reuters Seminar Series, Introduction by Richard Sambrook. Please note, that there are videos within this presentation which may sound distorted. Rima Marrouch 28 Apr 2017
15 Social Pluralism Religious Cleansing and Hybrid Warfare in Syria Since the ‘Arab Spring’ uprising of 2011, the United States and a network of European and regional Sunni allies have applied instruments of coercion against Syria that collectively take on the character of ‘hybrid warfare’. John Eibner 05 Apr 2017
16 Creative Commons FMR 54 - Who will resettle single Syrian men? Resettlement programmes for Syrian refugees severely restrict access to resettlement for single Syrian men, despite the conditions of vulnerability, insecurity and danger in which they live. Lewis Turner 23 Mar 2017
17 The Syrian Conflict Raphael Lefevre (New College, Oxford) and Kevin Mazur (Nuffield College, Oxford) discuss the ongoing Syrian conflict on 20th January 2017. Raphael Lefevre, Kevin Mazur 01 Feb 2017
18 The Shirin Project: the development of tools to support collective action in heritage protection and damage mitigation (Kurdish translation) Prof. Philip discusses the work of SHIRĪN, an NGO that is bringing together data generated by research groups that had worked in Syria prior to 2011. Its aim is to collate data, currently dispersed across many countries, to help create a Syrian HER. Graham Philip 22 Nov 2016
19 The Shirin Project: the development of tools to support collective action in heritage protection and damage mitigation (Arabic translation) Prof. Philip discusses the work of SHIRĪN, an NGO that is bringing together data generated by research groups that had worked in Syria prior to 2011. Its aim is to collate data, currently dispersed across many countries, to help create a Syrian HER. Graham Philip 22 Nov 2016
20 The Shirin Project: the development of tools to support collective action in heritage protection and damage mitigation (English) Prof. Philip discusses the work of SHIRĪN, an NGO that is bringing together data generated by research groups that had worked in Syria prior to 2011. Its aim is to collate data, currently dispersed across many countries, to help create a Syrian HER. Graham Philip 22 Nov 2016
21 Creative Commons The Syrian Refugee Crisis and International Law Professor Guy Goodwin-Gill, University of Oxford & Blackstone Chambers - May 2016 Guy Goodwin-Gill 21 Oct 2016
22 FMR 52 - New aid architecture and resilience building around the Syria crisis The international community has been piloting an integrated humanitarian, development and government response to the crisis in the region of Syria. Gustavo Gonzalez 15 Aug 2016
23 Creative Commons OxPeace 2016: State Building in the midst of conflict: lessons from Syria’ on evaluating DFID’s programme for capacity-building during conflict Jon Bennett gives a talk in parallel session C - Syria: governance, conflict and peace – two practical perspectives. Part of the 2016 OxPeace conference. Jon Bennett 30 Jun 2016
24 Creative Commons OxPeace 2016: Talks, negotiations and efforts to end Syria’s conflict: missed opportunities? Richard Barltrop gives a talk in parallel session C - Syria: governance, conflict and peace – two practical perspectives. Part of the 2016 OxPeace conference. Richard Barltrop 30 Jun 2016
25 How Syria was destroyed: The dynamics of a civil war Seminar on the civil war in Syria, with Dr Gilles Dorronsoro (Panthéon-Sorbonne University), Arthur Quesnay (Panthéon-Sorbonne University), Adam Baczko (Panthéon-Sorbonne University) on Monday 22nd February 2016 at the Middle East Centre. Gilles Dorronsoro, Arthur Quesnay, Adam Baczko 04 Mar 2016
26 Creative Commons The problems of reporting Islamic State John Simpson, BBC World Affairs editor, gives a talk for the The Business and Practice of Journalism Seminar Series on Islamic State. John Simpson 26 Feb 2016
27 FMR 51 - European Union readmission agreements The use of readmission agreements has prompted a debate on their compliance with international law, in particular the provisions on protection for refugees and asylum seekers. Mehdi Rais 19 Dec 2015
28 FMR 51 - A coast-guard officer’s perspective: reinforcing migration through legal channels Given that we cannot always rescue refugees or economic migrants in danger at the EU’s maritime borders, efforts are needed to reinforce legal channels for migration to Europe and to prevent refugees and migrants being exploited by criminal networks. Kostas Karagatsos 19 Dec 2015
29 FMR 51 - Are asylum and immigration really a European Union issue? Attempts to find an EU-wide solution to asylum may be preventing the finding of workable solutions at the bi-lateral or national level. Joanne van Selm 19 Dec 2015
30 FMR 51 - Social protection: a fourth durable solution? Although asylum seekers and refugees in Europe and in Latin America are very different in terms of numbers, a solution being implemented by Brazil and Ecuador may show the European Union a way forward on sharing the responsibility within a regional bloc. Carolina Montenegro 19 Dec 2015
31 FMR 51 - In search of fairness in responsibility sharing The cycle of mutual mistrust between EU Member States that prevents solidarity can only be broken if responsibility is assessed fairly on the basis of objective indicators. Philippe De Bruycker, Evangelia (Lilian) Tsourdi 19 Dec 2015
32 FMR 51 - Volunteers and asylum seekers People in communities where asylum seekers and refugees have appeared offered various forms of support to the new arrivals as states failed to provide even the essentials. Serhat Karakayali, J Olaf Kleist 19 Dec 2015
33 FMR 51 - Legal and practical issues raised by the movement of people across the Mediterranean States must deal with each other on a basis of equity and equality, rather than outmoded and unrealistic expectations of sovereign entitlement Guy S Goodwin-Gill 19 Dec 2015
34 FMR 51 - From Syria to Brazil Precisely because of the difficulties Syrians face in entering the EU, Brazil has opened up to them. Marília Calegari, Rosana Baeninger 19 Dec 2015
35 The creation of governments-in-waiting: the Arab Uprisings and legitimacy in the international system Lecture given at St Antony's Middle East Centre on Friday 20th November 2015 by Dr Glen Rangwala (Trinity College, University of Cambridge). Glen Rangwala 24 Nov 2015
36 Turkey’s Kurdish Predicament Lecture given at St. Antony’s Middle East Centre on Wednesday 28th October 2015, with Cengiz Candar. Cengiz Candar 20 Nov 2015
37 Creative Commons Heritage for Peace: an NGO protecting Syrian Cultural Heritage during the Conflict Part of the Conflict and Cultural Heritage Conference. Theme 3: What is being done or should be done? Exploring archaeological and military heritage protection initiatives. With Dr Emma Cunliffe (Heritage for Peace). Emma Cunliffe 19 Nov 2015
38 Law Enforcement of Cultural Heritage Crime Part of the Conflict and Cultural Heritage Conference. Theme 3: What is being done or should be done? Exploring archaeological and military heritage protection initiatives. With Vernon Rapley (Victoria and Albert Museum). Vernon Rapley 19 Nov 2015
39 Creative Commons The Sites and Monuments Record for Syria, and the Shirin Project Part of the Conflict and Cultural Heritage Conference. Theme 3: What is being done or should be done? Exploring archaeological and military heritage protection initiatives. With Professor Graham Philip. Graham Phillip 19 Nov 2015
40 Creative Commons Cultural Heritage in the Islamic State’s Worldview Part of the Conflict and Cultural Heritage Conference. Theme 2: Why is this happening? Understanding ISIL and other Islamist extremism. With Dr Alia Brahimi (CCW; Contest Global). Alia Brahimi 19 Nov 2015
41 Creative Commons FMR 48 - What’s faith got to do with it? Use of the faith-based label demands greater clarification lest it lose coherence and result in adverse policy implications, excluding religiously motivated actors from providing much-needed assistance to displaced communities, particularly inside Syria. Tahir Zaman 03 Jun 2015
42 An afternoon on Syrian displacement, and protection in Europe (Part 2) This event marked the launch of the RSC Policy Briefing 'Protection in Europe for refugees from Syria' and Forced Migration Review issue 47 on 'The Syria crisis, displacement and protection' Dawn Chatty, Cynthia Orchard, Andrew Miller 08 Dec 2014
43 An afternoon on Syrian displacement, and protection in Europe (Part 1) This event marked the launch of the RSC Policy Briefing 'Protection in Europe for refugees from Syria' and Forced Migration Review issue 47 on 'The Syria crisis, displacement and protection' Dawn Chatty, Maurice Herson, Roger Zetter 08 Dec 2014
44 Creative Commons FMR 47 Mobility as a solution Not all those who have gone to Syria's neighbours are registered, nor do all of these people regard themselves as refugees Lucas Oesch 02 Dec 2014
45 Creative Commons FMR 47 How the crisis is altering women’s roles in Syria The significance of women as both distributors and recipients has been pivotal to the implementation of humanitarian assistance but also points to the burgeoning of a new social dynamic that has come about as a result of the upheaval caused by the war. Zerene Haddad 02 Dec 2014
46 Creative Commons FMR 47 The inside story: internal displacement in Syria With IDPs currently constituting two-thirds of those uprooted by the conflict, the ‘inside story’ of displacement in Syria requires much greater attention. Erin Mooney 02 Dec 2014
47 Creative Commons FMR 47 The mental health of Syrian refugee children and adolescents Mental health services can be key to restoring basic psychological functioning and to supporting resilience and positive coping strategies for children, adolescents and adults. Leah James, Annie Sovcik, Ferdinand Garoff, Reem Abbasi 02 Dec 2014
48 Creative Commons FMR 47 The vulnerability of Palestinian refugees from Syria While Syrian nationals may eventually return to their home country, the future for Palestinians from Syria is increasingly uncertain. Meanwhile they are more vulnerable, and treated worse, than most other refugees from the Syrian conflict. Leah Morrison 02 Dec 2014
49 Creative Commons FMR 47 The impact of displacement on disabled, injured and older Syrian refugees In contexts of displacement it is critical to recognise that some groups in the population may require specific attention. Awareness of these needs has major consequences for the types of services required, and the way they are delivered. Marcus Skinner 02 Dec 2014
50 Creative Commons FMR 47 Gender, conscription and protection, and the war in Syria The struggles endured by men who remain inside Syria and the obstacles faced by others who choose to remove themselves from the fighting by fleeing the country demonstrate a need to redefine classic conceptions of vulnerability. Rochelle Davis, Abbie Taylor, Emma Murphy 02 Dec 2014
51 Creative Commons FMR 47 If Israel accepted Syrian refugees and IDPs in the Golan Heights Could re-opening the Golan Heights to Syrians displaced by the conflict be a beneficial option for those fleeing the Syrian conflict and for Israel’s relations with its north-eastern neighbour? Crystal Plotner 02 Dec 2014
52 Creative Commons FMR 47 For beneficiary-led protection programming in Jordan Despite the humanitarian community’s clear focus on addressing the protection concerns of displaced Syrians, in Jordan the beneficiaries of many protection programmes have had limited influence on the shape of the protection response to date. Sinead McGrath 02 Dec 2014
53 Creative Commons FMR 47 A duty and a burden on Jordan It is important to Jordan both that it protects its national identity and maintains its cultural obligations, and that it faces up to its humanitarian obligations. Saleh Al-Kilani 02 Dec 2014
54 Creative Commons FMR 47 Protection challenges of mobility It is easy to say that people fleeing Syria should stay in camps or satellite cities but people move on for a variety of reasons, and programmes and services must adapt to assist them. Melissa Phillips, Kathrine Starup 02 Dec 2014
55 Creative Commons FMR 47 Refugee by association Many Syrians, even when they have not been individually singled out, meet the refugee criteria on the grounds of being at risk of persecution because of a perceived association, in the broadest sense, with one of the parties to the conflict. Blanche Tax 02 Dec 2014
56 Creative Commons FMR 47 Limited legal status for refugees from Syria in Lebanon Having limited legal status has direct negative consequences for Syrian refugees’ access to protection and assistance during their stay in Lebanon. Limited legal status also increases the risks of abuse and exploitation. Dalia Aranki, Olivia Kalis 02 Dec 2014
57 Creative Commons FMR 47 Coping strategies among self-settled Syrians in Lebanon Refugees in Lebanon prefer living outside camps, where they can influence their situation. Cathrine Thorleifsson 02 Dec 2014
58 Creative Commons FMR 47 Refugee activists’ involvement in relief effort in Lebanon A cadre of educated middle-class Syrian refugees dedicated to improving conditions for Syrians at home and in Lebanon are building a civil society in exile but face obstacles to consolidating their presence and becoming more effective. Frances Topham Smallwood 02 Dec 2014
59 Creative Commons FMR 47 The role of host communities in north Lebanon Research conducted in Akkar, north Lebanon, suggests that the role played by the host community demonstrates good local capacity which should be built on to encourage further civic engagement and empowerment. Helen Mackreath 02 Dec 2014
60 Creative Commons FMR 47 Syrians contributing to Kurdish economic growth The circumstances for both successful livelihoods programming for refugees and for contributing to the local economy are present in the Kurdish region of Iraq. Anubha Sood, Louisa Seferis 02 Dec 2014
61 Creative Commons FMR 47 The refugee crisis in Lebanon and Jordan: the need for economic development spending The most effective way to tackle the Syrian refugee crisis is for neighbouring states to assume a leading role in development spending, infrastructure upgrading and job creation, particularly in the most underdeveloped regions of those countries. Omar Dahi 02 Dec 2014
62 Creative Commons FMR 47 Development and protection challenges of the Syrian refugee crisisf The Syria Regional Response Plan 6 (RRP6) 2014 provides an increased focus on early recovery, social cohesion interventions and a transition from assistance to development-led interventions, alongside the continuing large-scale humanitarian assistance. Roger Zetter, Heloise Ruaudel 02 Dec 2014
63 Creative Commons FMR 47 Foreword: the inheritance of loss As the civil war in Syria drags on, the scale of displacement continues to increase. While the crisis may be prolonged, refugees and IDPs need support now for their protection, their recovery, and both their immediate and their long-term prospects. Nigel Fisher 02 Dec 2014
64 Creative Commons FMR 47 From the Editors From the Editors Marion Couldrey, Maurice Herson 02 Dec 2014
65 Why are westerners drawn to fight with IS in Syria and Iraq? And what can we do in response? Rachel Briggs (Institute for Strategic Dialogue) and Peter Neumann (International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation) give a presentation for the COMPAS Breakfast Brefiing Series. Rachel Briggs, Peter Neumann 18 Nov 2014
66 Humanitarian Access in 21st Century Armed Conflict: Legal and Practical Lessons from Syria A discussion of the international law on humanitarian access with a focus on the legal and practical implications of the ongoing civil war in Syria. Emanuela Gillard, Ruvi Ziegler, Janina Dill 27 Oct 2014
67 Migration and revolution (The Arab Uprisings – Part 3) Part 3 of 3 of a series of podcasts from the special workshop 'The Arab Uprisings: Displacement and Migration', held at the Oxford Department of International Development on 16 May 2014 Nando Sigona, Nicholas Van Hear, Philip Marfleet, Marta Bellingreri 14 Aug 2014
68 Creative Commons Migration, transnationalism and social change (The Arab Uprisings – Part 2) Part 2 of 3 of a series of podcasts from the special workshop 'The Arab Uprisings: Displacement and Migration', held at the Oxford Department of International Development on 16 May 2014 Oliver Bakewell, Helene Thiollet, Nadia Bouras, Giulia Breda 14 Aug 2014
69 The Syrian Crisis (The Arab Uprisings – Part 1) Part 1 of 3 of a series of podcasts from the special workshop 'The Arab Uprisings: Displacement and Migration', held at the Oxford Department of International Development on 16 May 2014 Dawn Chatty, Madeline V Garlick, Meltem Ineli Ciger 14 Aug 2014
70 Creative Commons A lost generation? Education opportunities for Syrian refugee children in Lebanon Special seminar by Dr Maha Shuayb (Centre for Lebanese Studies), which took place at the Oxford Department of International Development on 19 May 2014. Maha Shuayb 11 Aug 2014
71 Syria – what chance of a free media? Armand Hurault, the director of public relations for the Syrian Association of Free Media (ASML - Association de Soutien aux Medias Libres) gives a talk for the Reuters seminar series Armand Hurault 04 Jun 2014
72 Creative Commons RSC 2014 Conference: Refugee Voices: Panel 18 – Refugees from Syria RSC 2014 Conference: Refugee Voices. Lectures by Cathrine Thorleifsson; Dina Jane Kiwan; Ruba Al Akash and Karen Boswall; Veronica Ferreri. Recorded on 25 March 2014 at St Anne's College, University of Oxford. Cathrine Thorleifsson, Dina Jane Kiwan, Ruba Al Akash, Karen Boswall 19 May 2014
73 Creative Commons FMR 45 Opportunity to change Lebanon’s asylum policy Lebanon’s attitude towards the ‘Syrian exception’ can be used as the starting point for its policy to come into line with international refugee and human rights norms, standards and protection. Samira Trad 07 Apr 2014
74 Creative Commons How the Syrian Regime Sells its War at Home Drawing his own experience of working as a journalist in Syria, Stephen Starr reports on the war in Syria and how the current regime presents the war to the people of Syria. Stephen Starr 01 Apr 2014
75 Monopolizing God: The Politics of Religion and Citizens' Rights Today Is the discourse of God getting monopolized for political reasons? How are citizens’ rights to be safeguarded if the will of the people and the interpretations of the will of God are not always aligned? Nelufar Heyadar, Tariq Ramadan, Anicée Van Engeland, Monica Toft 24 Mar 2014
76 Creative Commons Displacement from Syria: putting the Common European Asylum System to the test? Special lecture, Michaelmas term 2013. Lecture by Madeline V Garlick (UNHCR) recorded on 24 October 2013 at the Oxford Department of International Development, University of Oxford. Madeline V Garlick 25 Oct 2013
77 From the Arab Spring to the Syrian War: Regional, international and humanitarian impact This session will examine the political and humanitarian dynamics behind the Arab Spring and the Syrian War. Starting with a long view of the events leading to the Arab Spring, it will analyse the regional and international repercussions of the uprisings. Hugo Slim, Louise Fawcett 08 Oct 2013
78 Creative Commons FMR 43 Crisis in Lebanon: camps for Syrian refugees? Lebanon has absorbed the enormous Syrian influx but at a high cost to both refugees and Lebanese populations. Current humanitarian programmes can no longer cope and new approaches are needed. Jeremy Loveless 09 Aug 2013
79 Creative Commons Reporting the Arab Spring Lindsey Hilsum, Channel 4 International Editor, gives a talk on the Arab Spring revolutions and insurrections in Syria, Egypt and Tunisia. Lindsey Hilsum 22 Jul 2011
80 Creative Commons RSC Wednesday Seminars 2011: Refugees and the Definition of Syria This podcast was recorded at the Refugee Studies Centre's fifth Wednesday Public Seminar of Hilary Term 2011. Benjamin White 23 May 2011