The Peter McCormack Show #060 - Firas Modad - How a Terrorist Became Syria’s President
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Mar 19, 2025 Firas Modad, a geopolitical analyst and Middle East expert, dives deep into the ongoing turmoil in Syria and the complex web of global power struggles involving the US, Russia, and Iran. He discusses how sectarian divides fuel conflict and the failures of Western interventions. Modad addresses the challenges of nation-building in the Arab world and the impact of authoritarian leadership. The conversation also touches on the dark realities faced by Syrian refugees and the ideologies that underpin groups like ISIS, ultimately questioning Syria's path towards either reconciliation or continued violence.
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Syria before Assad
- Syria was a secular country with diverse religions, seemingly protecting minorities.
- The podcast explores how the Assad regime came to exist and the kind of country Syria was before.
Artificial States
- The Ottoman Empire's collapse and the European carve-up created artificial states in the Middle East.
- These new states lacked historical foundations, leading to instability and conflict.
Lack of National Identity
- The lack of national identity contributes to regional conflicts and the appeal of transnational groups.
- Individuals readily fight across borders due to weak national ties.