In 2016 it was Aleppo, this month it is the Eastern Ghouta in Syria. Siege warfare has made a resurgence across the Middle East and North Africa since the Arab Spring uprisings at the beginning of the decade. During the 20th Century, siege tactics appeared to have been all-but relegated to history. But across the region – from Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Libya – sieges have become more widespread, longer-lasting, and more severe than at any point in modern history. These sieges are microcosms within broader conflicts. They have their own local dynamics that are particularly resistant to resolution and are devastating for civilians. This talk will discuss the trends and dynamics of contemporary siege warfare across the region, and explore potential solutions to this phenomenon. These include humanitarian ‘coping mechanisms’; internationalized resolutions for the broader conflict; and localized solutions driven by local councils pressing for local and short-term solutions to ease suffering. These ‘solutions’, which often are effective, tend to not resolve the situation over the long-term and can exacerbate conflict.
Joining us in this discussion is Ashley Jonathan Clements. Ashley is a PhD candidate at the Asia-Pacific College of Diplomacy at the Australian National University. His research focuses on humanitarian negotiations with armed groups. Ashley has spent more than a decade working in humanitarian crises with international NGOs and the United Nations, including in Yemen, the Horn of Africa, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Myanmar, the occupied Palestinian territories, Jordan, Georgia, and Haiti, among other countries.
The attached articles are suggested background readings on the topic. They are not required for participation, rather, they are provided for those who would like to prepare for our discussion.
Logistics
This week’s Majlis will be held at the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies . Tea, coffee, and cakes will be available from 10.45am.

We hope to start by 11.05am. Please be on time so we are able to have a full and in-depth discussion.

Please be aware that parking on the ANU campus can be difficult after 9am.

As always, please feel free to contact us on this email if you have any questions or concerns.