Battleground: Ten Conflicts that Explain the New Middle East: Caabu Book Launch with Chris Phillips

Caabu invites you to an in person briefing with Christopher Phillips, author, and professor of international relations at Queen Mary University of London, who will discuss his new book, Battleground: Ten Conflicts that Explain the New Middle East, on Tuesday 30 April 2024 at 6.30pm at The Arab British Centre, 1 Gough Square, London, EC4A 3DE.

Please RSVP with Ambar Yousuf at Caabu ([email protected]) to attend. Please note that this briefing is in person only.

Battleground: Ten Conflicts that Explain the New Middle East, published by Yale University Press can be purchased here. Books by Caabu speakers can be purchased here through Caabu's affiliate page on Bookshop.org. Caabu receives 10% of any purchase made as does an independent book shop. 

When: Tuesday 30 April 2024, 18:30

Where: The Arab British Centre, 1 Gough Square, London, EC4A 3DE. Transport and further instructions on how to get here can be found here.

Previous Caabu briefings can be watched in this playlist here.

Caabu has created an affiliate page on Bookshop. This means, that with any purchase through this site, 10% of the sale price will be sent to us and another 10% will go to support local bookshops. We think this is a great way to support Caabu's work and independent bookshops across the country. More details about it can be found here.

• Buy other books from previous online Caabu briefings here and from physical events we've hosted here.
• Titles written by Caabu board members and patrons can be found here, as can others written by those who have spoken at Caabu events here.

We hope you enjoy reading any of these titles, and supporting Caabu in the process.

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About the book:

The Middle East is in crisis. The shocking events of the war in Gaza have rocked the entire region. More than a decade ago, the Arab Spring had raised hopes of a new beginning but instead ushered in a series of civil wars, coups, and even harsher autocracies. Tensions were exacerbated by the meddling of outsiders, as regional and global powers sought to further their interests. The United States, for so long the dominant actor, had stepped back, leaving a vacuum behind it to be fought over.

Christopher Phillips explores geopolitical rivalries in the region, and the major external powers vying for influence: Russia, China, the EU, and the US. Moving through ten key flashpoints, from Syria to Palestine, Phillips argues that the United States’ overextension after the Cold War, and retreat in the 2010s, has imbalanced the region. Today, the Middle East remains blighted by conflicts of unprecedented violence and a post-American scramble for power – leaving its fate in the balance.

The ten regions and conflicts discussed: SYRIA, LIBYA, YEMEN, PALESTINE, IRAQ, EGYPT, LEBANON, KURDISTAN, THE GULF, THE HORN OF AFRICA

What they say about ‘Battleground’ :

‘Phillips writes crisply and critically, covering a lot of ground’, James Barr, Financial Times

‘An accessible introduction to conflicts across the region, written, according to the author, for readers wanting to understand the complex reality of the Middle East and looking for a place to start’, Sophie Roell, Five Books

‘Phillips finds the sweet spot of providing both depth and breadth in examining ongoing conflicts in the Middle East as well as in countries and zones experiencing various levels of trauma that could lead to conflict. He masterfully weaves together a multidimensional analysis that students, the general public, and policymakers would do well to read. While doing so, he offers a nuanced understanding of the subject matter and communicates a wealth of information in an accessible manner. I highly recommend it’, David W. Lesch, author of The Middle East Since the Rise of Islam

About the speaker:

Christopher Phillips is professor of international relations at Queen Mary University of London. He is the author of Battle for Syria, now in its second edition, and co-editor of What Next for Britain in the Middle East? Phillips has appeared on BBC Newsnight, BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme, BBC News, Al-Jazeera, Sky News, Bloomberg and Channel 4 News. He has written op-eds in The Guardian, The Washington Post, and Prospect among others. 

He Tweets: @cjophillips.

Caabu is a not-for-profit cross-party organisation whose mission is to work for a British Middle East policy that promotes conflict resolution, human rights and civil society in the Arab world through informed debate and mutual understanding. Caabu is one of the most active NGOs working on the Middle East in British parliament since its establishment in 1967. From then on Caabu has assumed an active advocacy, educational and media role.

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