Quinn Mecham, Assistant Professor, Middlebury College.

Come and gain insight into the current crisis unfolding in the Middle East, a region that ripples with complexity. Who is Hezbollah? What are the roots of the current crisis? Who are the other regional players and what do they want? What is the role of the United States in the region?

Quinn Mecham, Assistant Professor of Political Science at Middlebury College, will address the context for Hezbollah's growth as a regional power, provide background on the most recent Israeli-Lebanese conflict, and consider implications of the conflict for Lebanon's neighbors. He will also discuss American policy in the Middle East and future opportunities and challenges presented by ongoing conflict in the region.

Quinn Mecham is a specialist in Middle Eastern politics. His research focuses on political Islam and civil conflict in the Muslim world. He has traveled and performed research in many countries in the Middle East and Africa, including Turkey, Israel, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal, and Kuwait. He most recently returned from a trip to Syria this summer where he observed Syrian perspectives on the Israeli-Lebanese conflict.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information call 496-7556.

Venue: 1824 House Inn, Rt 100, Waitsfield