Search: Syria Insta-Symposium
25 May Symposium on Advancing Effective and Comprehensive Reparation for Victims of the War in Ukraine: Introduction
...repurposing of Russian frozen assets for reparations, the debate has evolved in important ways. The authors highlight how incremental and fragmented progress on the long road towards asset recovery for reparation can be capitalised on by States to create credible pathways for supporting survivors. Conclusion This symposium brings into conversation a diverse range of perspectives on critically important and timely questions as to how to fulfil the right to reparation of victims of the war in Ukraine. In doing so, the symposium contributes to moving the focus of discussion surrounding...12 Sep From Apology to Bazinga!: International Legal Rhetoric in Obama’s Speech and Putin’s Op-Ed
...it was to find peace in Syria. If that is the case, then the Russian proposal for international control over Syria’s chemical weapons may lead to some real good. But it is also possible that Putin’s main objective is just to prevent U.S, intervention no matter what. Some have argued that Putin finds the breadth of U.S. operations close to Russia’s borders (or within the U.S.S.R.’s old sphere of influence) in places like Afghanistan and Syria as particularly galling. So his main goal may simply be to stop the U.S....12 May Guest Post: Strong Words, Weak Arguments – A Response to the Open Letter to the UN on Humanitarian Access to Syria (Part 2)
...Syrian forces attacked convoys that crossed the border without consent. Without any security arrangements with the state, or communication with the government regarding entry of convoys and staff, humanitarian personnel on the ground in Syria would be operating in violation of Syrian law. Many humanitarian actors, perhaps most vocally USG Amos, have commented on the many armed groups who control and seek to control access in rebel-held areas. Should the UN announce that it was entering Syria without the consent of the government (and indeed in the face of government...07 Apr Almost Everyone Agrees that the U.S. Strikes Against Syria are Illegal, Except for Most Governments
is illegal, but it is striking how few are willing to say it is illegal. I’ve gathered a few statements and links below. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Q: Does China consider the missile strike on the Syrian airbase to be within the scope of international law? Or do you think it violates existing rules about intervention in other country’s sovereign territory? A: The Chinese side has always stood for a political settlement of the Syrian issue. Under the current circumstances, we hope all parties can keep calm, exercise restraint...14 Feb Syria and the Overlapping Consensus
...fact, the neoconservatives were paragons of modesty compared with the liberal interventionists and R2P supporters who saw in Libya and now see in Syria the chance to move one step closer to remaking the world in the image of the human rights movement. Infatuated by their own good intentions — and persuaded that their interventionist views incarnate a higher morality — those who view Libya as a triumph and Syria as an opportunity to cement the practice of humanitarian intervention are in full crusading mode. If the looming victory of...05 Apr The Syria Attacks: Haven’t We Had These Debates Already?
Rome Statute does not single out chemical weapons use alone as a crime, despite an initial proposal by drafters to do so. Finally, we held an “insta-symposium” on Syria with many great contributions from scholars, legal and non-legal, on the difficult questions raised by the Syria conflict. A list of those posts can be found here at the bottom of the first post in that symposium, from Stephanie Carvin. Hopefully, this will help all of us refresh ourselves for the great Syria intervention debate, Round II (Donald J. Trump edition)....25 Apr The Legality of President Obama’s “Red Line” on Syrian Chemical Weapons
President since, has used military force without a declaration of war and generally without authorization from Congress. Anon Recognition as the "legitimate representative of the Syrian people" is emphatically not the same as recognition as the Government of Syria. The U.S. very pointedly has not recognized a successor government to the Assad regime, in large part to make clear that Assad remains responsible for upholding Syria's international obligations with regard to nonproliferation and human rights. Jordan A short article of mine, Use of Military Force in Syria by Turkey, NATO,...23 Jan John Bellinger Responds to Julian Ku on Intervention in Syria
hands of groups hostile to U.S. interests, as happened in Libya. But I added that “As the violence in Syria increases…the president is likely to feel compelled to provide more than political support and non-lethal aid.” Julian asks at the end of his post: If one really thought international legality was so crucial, wouldn’t it be better to seek out a plausible legal theory, rather than simply rely on muddy political formulations? For instance, wouldn’t it be easier just to recognize the Syrian opposition as the government of Syria, and...17 Oct Still on that Syrian IAC
Thanks to Ryan Goodman for his thoughtful entry in our ongoing discussion about the existence of an international armed conflict (IAC) in Syria. For those just joining, I’d questioned Ryan’s analysis that an IAC exists in Syria as between Syria and the United States on the grounds that none of the three recent events Ryan cited in support for his conclusion – the putative existence of a U.S.-backed “no-fly” zone in country, the United States’ mistaken attack on Syrian forces (which the U.S. says it mistook for ISIL forces), and...
08 Dec One Year After the Fall of Assad, 1,101 Syrians Speak Out About Their Demands for Justice
been missing from formal justice debates, not because they are silent, but because meaningful nationwide consultation has been nearly impossible during years of conflict, surveillance, and fear. To correct this gap, Legal Action Worldwide (LAW), together with Syrian Centre for Legal Studies and Research and Syrians for Truth and Justice, conducted the first nationwide survey on perceptions of justice during Syria’s transition. Between July and September 2025, 1,101 Syrians from all 13 governorates participated, offering a rare, empirically grounded picture of what justice means to them after more than a...