The United Nations Secretary-General has called Syria hell on Earth. How did it get this bad? What are the geopolitics at play? And what about the rest of the Middle East? Maria Armoudian discusses the ongoing crisis in Syria and the surrounding areas with Laurie A. Brand, Fred H. Lawson, Hamoud Salhi, and William Harris.

Laurie A. Brand is a Professor of International Relations and Middle East Studies at the University of Southern California. He is an expert in the international relations of the Middle East and is the author of Palestinians in the Arab World: Institution Building and the Search for State.

Fred H. Lawson is a Professor of Government at Mills College and Visiting Professor in National Security Affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey. He is an expert in Middle East politics and is the author of Demystifying Syria.

Hamoud Salhi is a Professor of Political Science and Middle East Studies at California State University, Dominguez Hills.

William Harris is a Professor of Politics at Otago University, New Zealand. He is an expert in Middle East politics and is the author of Quicksilver War: Syria, Iraq and the Spiral of Conflict.

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Disclaimer: The ideas expressed in this podcast reflect the views of the guests and not necessarily the views of The Big Q.