The conflict in Syria has often assumed the ominous characteristic of being insoluble or endless.
The government and its various opponents have shown little interest in compromise. The Assad regime’s…
Last Monday, Syria’s Interior Ministry announced the results of a referendum on a new constitution.
Of the 57.4% of eligible voters who went to the polls on 26 February 2012, 89.4% agreed to pass the…
Many Syrians prefer the stability of the Assad regime to the chaos they saw after dictators were deposed in Libya and Iraq.
EPA/Youssef Badawi
The stench of hypocrisy is a hard one to wash out for the West in the Middle East.
We shook Gadaffi’s hand and pretended we liked his outfits when he coughed up for Lockerbie and we snuggled with Mubarak…
The Arab League has repeatedly failed to effect political change in the region.
EPA/Amel Pain
This weekend, Syria witnessed some of its bloodiest days since political agitation began last year. Dozens were killed after the government launched a new military offensive against rebel group the Free…
The Occupy movement: different agendas, but united by the right to civil disobedience.
The “Occupy” movement has swept the world in the last five weeks, as seems appropriate in this year of demonstrations by people tired of a clapped-out status quo.
Of course, the Occupy movement is quite…
Syrian troops withdraw from the city of Hama where they were quelling pro-democracy protests.
AFP/STR
The United States has stepped up sanctions against Syria, targeting President Bashar al-Assad’s financial resources. Syria claims to have withdrawn its troops from the city of Hama, which has played a…
Hacktivists remove choice from consumers – and in their own way lay down the law.
anonmunich
As you’ll know by now, hacktivist group Anonymous has vandalised the home page of the Syrian Ministry of Defense, posting a message which started: “To the Syrian people: the world stands with you against…
A portrait of President Assad in Midan, Syria
Brian Stoddard
Emeritus Professor Brian Stoddart, former Vice-Chancellor at La Trobe University, returned recently from an extended assignment working with universities in Syria.
Below is his account of his time in…
Syrian President Assad addresses the nation earlier this week.
AAP
Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad made a major speech earlier this week promising major reforms in the way his country is governed in an attempt to end protests rocking the Middle Eastern country.
However…
Still from a video showing Syrian anti-government protestors in Hama on June 3 2011.
AFP/YouTube
As we watch the spot fires of democratic uprisings flicker across Syria it is worth remembering that the government’s response so far has been mild.
The religious tensions of the country and disaffection…
