The Middle East: Conflicts and Interpretations

This lecture delves into the complex dynamics of the Middle East, focusing on the Arab Spring aftermath, the branches of Islam, and the regional power struggles. It explores the challenges of interpreting conflicts through a sectarian lens and the efforts to rehabilitate political figures. The instructor discusses the reconciliation attempts between the Hamas movement and the Syrian regime, the role of the Emirati government in rehabilitating Assad, and the impact of confession-based interpretations on regional conflicts. The lecture also covers the historical context of the region, including the Yemeni unification, the Bahraini political landscape, and the Syrian civil war. Through a series of slides, the lecture provides insights into the religious, political, and social complexities of the Middle East.