David Barsamian conducted the following interview with Jadaliyya Co-Editor Bassam Haddad on 19 November 2012. It does not cover recent events. Instead, it features an in-depth discussion of the historical and contemporary contexts of the uprising in Syria, as well as the essential dynamics inside the country and their concomitant effects on the state, society, and unfolding events. The interview also discusses the regional context within which the Syrian crisis is lodged.
The topics covered include:
1. History and Background of the Syrian Uprising
2. Sectarianism and Claims of Sectarianism in Syria
3. The Syrian Opposition
4. The Deterioration and Transformation of the Militant Opposition
5. Iran, Hezbollah, and the Regional Dimension
6. US Policy in the Region
7. Mainstream Media Reporting on Syria
8. The Human Tragedy in Syria, and What Can be Done