Lebanon. Rising Tensions in the Middle East | Current Affairs lecture with political scientist Nora Stel

Announcement

Exploding pagers and walkie-talkies, a missile barrage into the north of Israel, followed by a massive airstrike into the Lebanese territory: tensions between Israel and Lebanon are reaching a new high. How can we best interpret the latest developments? Are these attacks a way to prevent a further escalation? Or do they have the potential to trigger a bigger conflict in the Middle East – and maybe even beyond? Come and listen to political scientist Nora Stel and learn more about the recent developments in the Middle East. 

Catalyst for a bigger regional conflict? 

The exploding Hezbollah devices and its aftermath made global headlines. Hezbollah officials quickly declared the attack a ‘declaration of war’. Tensions were already extremely high during the last year, but it seems as if we entered a new stage of the conflict with the possibility of spreading through the Middle East. The special United Nations coordinator for Lebanon warned that the whole region is ‘on the brink of an imminent catastrophe’. What is happening in Lebanon? Why did these attacks take place? Could they trigger a wider regional conflict? 

During this Current Affairs Lecture we will delve into the recent developments with political scientist Nora Stel. How do these developments relate to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas? How should we interpret Hezbollah and the historically complex relationship between Israel and Lebanon? Which domestic policies motivated the attacks from both sides? And what does this all tell us about the risk of further escalation of the conflict throughout the Middle East? 

Philosopher Cees Leijenhorst will moderate the conversation. At the end there will be room for your questions. 

This programme will be in English.

About the speaker

Nora Stel is an assistant professor in conflict studies at Radboud University. She studies conflict and displacement in the Middle East.