Christopher Phillips

Christopher Phillips is a Professor in International Relations at Queen Mary University of London. His research analyzes the international dimensions of Middle Eastern conflicts, especially the Syrian civil war and external interventions. He authored Battleground: Ten Conflicts that Explain the New Middle East (2024) and The Battle for Syria (2020).

Phillips examines how identity politics and global power rivalries prolong conflicts, with empirical focus on Iran-Saudi competition and British policy. He consults governments and media, appearing on BBC Newsnight and Al-Jazeera. His public engagement includes co-curating the Imperial War Museum exhibition 'Syria: Story of a Conflict'.