#2. The political economy of militarism and neoliberalism in the Syrian conflict with Omar Dahi

The neoliberal project was promoted globally as a realm that increases freedom that supposedly unshackles the individual from the constraints of the state. But in reality, It went from merely an economic policy to politics that work hand in hand with militarism and securitisation to privatise and sell social services for profits everywhere, including Syria. Speakers:Omar Dahi: Professor of economics at Hampshire college in the USA and researcher with the Syrian Center for Policy Research. He is the director of Security in Context, a research initiative and network on peace, conflict and international affairs. His publications have appeared in journals such as Journal of Development Economics, Applied Economics, Southern Economic Journal, Political Geography, Middle East Report, Forced Migration Review, and Critical Studies on Security. His last book was South-South Trade and Finance in the 21st Century: Rise of the South or a Second Great Divergence (co-authored with Firat Demir).Security in Context website: www.securityincontext.comHis latest paper is: "Conflict Economies in Syria: Roots, Dynamics, and Pathways for Change". www.scpr-syria.org/conflict-economies-in-syria-roots-dynamics-and-pathways-for-change/ Rabie Nasser: Economist, researcher and co-founder of the Syrian Center for Policy Research (SCPR).SCPR website: https://www.scpr-syria.org/Episode ProducersAdriana Qubaiova, Houda F Jawadi, Klaudia Wieser.بودكاست سوريا؛ حوارات بديلة: يوفر منصة لإجراء حوارات قائمة على الأدلة حول التحديات السياسية والاقتصادية والاجتماعية المحلية والعابرة للحدود التي برزت خلال النزاع السوري. ينتج بالتعاون بين المركز السوري لبحوث السياسات ومعهد الدراسات العربية والأمن في سياقه.Syria; Alternative Dialogue is a podcast that provides a platform for knowledge production and evidence-based dialogue about domestic and transnational political, economic, and social challenges in Syria’s protracted conflict