The European Centre for the Study of Extremism, Cambridge (EuroCSE) aims to engage a global audience on one of the most central issues of our time, namely the problems in Syria. Our international conference will be held on 5th-6th April 2017. We aim to promote responsible and enlightened discussion between academics, practitioners (professionals, such as psychologists, sociologists and economists), politicians and policy makers, in an effort to generate clear and compassionate approaches to solve these challenging problems. We have brought together a world-class group of experts to collate a body of knowledge so that we are equipped to address this complex crisis.

This incredible opportunity to be a part of resolving the repeated cycles of violence that exist in Syria, and examine the ways in which these aspects affect the international purview, offers a unique space for analysing how we can best improve well-being and effect positive adaptations between the areas of practice, policy development and evaluation within society, to improve stability and overall global health.

Compassion-driven leadership is at the heart of our endeavours. EuroCSE envisions the possibility of open thinking, and facilitates communication to resolve senseless cycles of violence and other associated problems, in an effort to promulgate good will toward positively reversing suffering, and replacing it with sustainable and meaningful tolerance.

Our title for this conference is: Syria – Six Years On: From Destruction to Reconstruction. Our focal point for discussion is the Syrian Arab Republic and the widespread destruction across the country due to war. We are working with multidisciplinary expertise to find sustainable approaches to healing these problems.

There is a need to reconstruct Syria as a nation (physically and psychologically) and work towards dialogue, fostering tolerance and reconciliation, and resolve the trauma across the country and within the region, which is necessary for working towards peace.

EuroCSE is an academic research centre, comprised of renowned psychologists, professionals and academics. We believe that peace can and will be achieved even between those of differing perspectives. Mediation is necessary in conflict resolution and as intellectuals we feel responsible for our societies and believe that our conferences are a form of Track Two Diplomacy.

Almost 50 speakers will be speaking at a two-day conference discussing national, regional and international dimensions of this ongoing conflict. Hence, in front of academics, diplomats, media and other professionals, the conference will consist of ten thematic panels. Within these panels, academics and experts in various fields of study will present their papers, which will be followed by critical discussion and engagement.
We seek to promote an atmosphere conducive for deep conflict resolution. It is through inclusiveness and compassionate discussion and critical analysis that reconciliation and peace will be achieved in Syria, and indeed elsewhere in the world.
The high-profile international conference will host a diverse audience from across the globe. We learn from the reconciliation experience of senior figures such as our patron Lord Dr Eames in the Irish case. Last December we held in Cambridge a conference on Turkey, in which opposing views were represented, and despite initial reluctance and disbelief, this opened up a dialogue.

Raising grievance is part of a healing process. This conference, however, is about resolving extremism, avoiding reactionary politics and propaganda, and therefore it is about establishing mature responsible dialogue, understanding, fostering tolerance and paving a way for reconciliation and peace.
Everybody involved in this discourse cares about and is emotionally invested in Syria and its fate. Our conference provides an important platform for responsible diplomacy with the goal of resolution of war and healing distress. Syria needs reconstruction, reconciliation and peace; we believe that our first Patron and Keynote speaker at the conference The Rt. Rev. and Rt. Honorable, Baron of Oystermouth, Lord Dr Rowan Williams, Master of Magdalene College is best placed to advocate for peace in Syria and to facilitate this evolving dialogue for peace.

The Rt Hon and Rt Rev the Lord Dr Rowan Williams of Oystermouth- Lord Dr Rowan Douglas Williams is a Welsh Anglican bishop and theologian, poet and academic. He has been acknowledged internationally as an exceptional theological writer and scholar whose interests also involve contemporary culture and interfaith related issues. Lord Dr Williams was the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury, Metropolitan of the Province of Canterbury and Primate of All England (Dec 2002-Dec 2012). He was also previously the Bishop of Monmouth and Archbishop of Wales, which made him the first Archbishop of Canterbury in contemporary times, who was not appointed from within the Church of England. Lord Dr. Williams also taught as an academic at the University of Cambridge and Oxford, successively. He is a Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge since January 2013, and was introduced to the temporal benches of the House of Lords on January 15th, 2013.