Syrian Migration Crisis
Faculty members to discuss Syrian refugee crisis
The Clarke Forum for Contemporary Issues will present “Breaking Issue: The Syrian Migration Crisis,” a panel discussion on the Syrian civil war and the repercussions that have led to the displacement of more than half of the Syrian population. It will be held on Monday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m. in the Stern Center Great Room.
What began as a violent crackdown on peaceful demonstrations against autocratic ruler Bashar Al-Assad in March 2011 has escalated into a civil war involving anti-Assad regime fighters, regional Islamic extremists, neighboring countries and Assad-ally nations such as Iran and Russia.
The U.N. estimates that half of Syria’s population of 23 million has been displaced due to the civil war, with more than four million having fled the country entirely. At the current rate of exodus, the U.N. predicts there could be 4.27 million Syrian refugees by the end of 2015. Within the country, more than 7.6 million people have been displaced by the five-year long war. As the number of displaced Syrians increases, the safety of those inside—and the relocation of those fleeing the war—has become a global crisis.
The panelists are Kristine Mitchell, associate professor of political science and international studies; Magda Siekert, lecturer in Middle East studies; and, representing the U.S. Army War College, Marybeth Ulrich, a professor of government in the Department of National Security Strategy and an adjunct professor of political science and international studies at Dickinson. They will discuss the international-security, diplomatic and social implications of the refugee crisis and how world powers are responding to the growing disaster. Assistant Professor of Political Science and International Studies Andrew Wolff will serve as moderator.
Mitchell’s teaching and research interests include European and EU politics, political identities and labor politics. Siekert spent 22 years as a foreign service officer in the Department of State, and her specialty is U.S. public diplomacy. Ulrich has written extensively in the field of strategic studies with special emphasis on European security, civil-military relations, and national-security democratization issues. Wolff’s primary areas of interest include U.S. foreign policy, transatlantic relations, NATO and EU security policy, international-relations theory, and diplomatic summitry.
The program is sponsored by the Clarke Forum and was initiated by the Clarke Forum’s student project managers. For more information, call 717-245-1875.
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Published October 22, 2015