CONFLICTED

The Syrian Civil War Pt.2 – The Kurds Rise Up

Feb 26, 2025

Rani Hamadeh, a Syrian Kurd with a decade of experience in conflict data analysis, shares his gripping story of life under siege in Aleppo and Afrin. He dives into the historical context of Kurdish nationalism, exploring the interplay between Kurdish and Arab identities. The discussion highlights the cultural repression faced by Kurds and the rise of political consciousness amidst systemic oppression. With insights into the complexities of Kurdish politics during the Syrian Civil War, Rani challenges stereotypes and sheds light on the multifaceted Kurdish experience.

01:10:15

Episode guests

Rani Hamadeh

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

The establishment of numerous Kurdish political parties during the Syrian Civil War reflects their struggle for identity and representation amid state repression.

Kurdish nationalism in Syria is influenced by historical tensions with Arab nationalism, resulting in a complex duality between seeking autonomy and full citizenship.

The assassination of pro-revolution Kurdish leaders created divisions within Kurdish factions, altering their political engagement during the Arab Spring.

Deep dives

The Role of Kurdish Political Parties

The establishment of Kurdish political parties played a significant role in the Syrian civil landscape, with a total of 16 registered by the time the Arab Spring began. Most Kurdish parties were cautious, taking a neutral stance towards the protests initially, driven by fear stemming from historical crackdowns by the Assad regime. Among these factions, the Kurdish Future Movement distinguished itself by openly supporting the revolution, yet its charismatic leader, Mish'al Atammu, was assassinated in 2011, which shifted the dynamics. This assassination effectively diminished Kurdish representation within the broader Syrian opposition, leading to a fragmented political landscape.

Intro

1min

Narrative Histories of the Syrian Civil War

3min

Kurdish Perspectives in the Syrian Civil War

9min

Kurdish Identity and Nationalism in Syria

21min

The PKK and Kurdish Dynamics in Syria

5min

The Rise of Kurdish Political Consciousness Amidst Oppression

6min

The Kurdish Struggle Amidst the Syrian Uprising

21min

A Young Life Pause Before the Storm of Change

3min

This week on Conflicted, we begin in earnest our retrospective on the Syrian Civil War, where we will be inviting actual Syrians from a multitude of different perspectives, to tell us about their experiences of the war.

After setting the scene with our old friend Wassim Nasr last time, over our upcoming episodes, we’ll be creating a kind of narrative history for you, our listeners, as we make sense of this most complex of conflicts from as many angles as we can.

In this episode, Thomas invites on Syrian Kurd Ronnie Hamada to delve into the complexities of the Syrian Civil War, focusing on the Kurdish experience and setting the scene with their historical identity.

Ronnie has been working in data and analysis of conflicts in Syria and the wider Middle East for the past 10 years, working alongside journalists and NGOs to map conflicts and combat misinformation, and his story of life under siege in Aleppo and Afrin is an extraordinary one… They explore the historical context of Kurdish nationalism, the impact of Arab nationalism, and the political dynamics within Kurdish communities in Syria. Ronnie shares his personal story and insights, highlighting the challenges faced by Kurds, including statelessness and cultural repression and the intricate dynamics of Kurdish identity and politics in Syria, particularly in the context of the Arab Spring.

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Subscribers will get bonus episodes every other week, and can also join our Conflicted Community chatroom, where you can interact with fellow dearest listeners, discuss episodes past and future, get exclusive messages from Thomas and Aimen, ask future Q&A questions and so much more.

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CONFLICTED

The Syrian Civil War Pt.2 – The Kurds Rise Up

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

The Role of Kurdish Political Parties

Cultural and National Identity of the Kurds

Impact of the Arab Spring on Kurdish Politics

The Assad Regime’s Strategy of Division and Control

Personal Stories Amidst Political Turmoil

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts