The ‘Umayyad Comeback’ in Post-Assad Syria Introduction The sudden collapse of the Assad regime in December 2024 shocked the world. After 50 years of rule and a brutal 13-year civil war, the government of Bashar al-Assad fell with surprising speed. Into the resulting power vacuum stepped Ahmed al-Sharaa, the de facto leader of the new
Syria's reconstruction is not a conventional post-conflict challenge. It is a "hyper-complex" crisis where both scenarios overlay a landscape of fragmented sovereignty, highly politicised legislation, and intense geopolitical rivalry. This report argues that sustainable and equitable reconstruction depends on resolving fundamental contradictions between the exclusionary nature of the current legal framework, political imperatives, and international conditions.
Syria’s Crossroads: A Vision for the Future vs. a Shadowy Reality A recent Reuters report, Syria is secretly reshaping its economy. The president’s brother is in charge, raises serious concerns about the country’s economic future after the conflict. The report claims a secret “shadow committee,” led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s older brother, Hazem al-Sharaa, is managing
World’s Top Courts Issue Landmark Rulings on Climate Change Two of the world’s most important courts have made major rulings on climate change. In 2024 and 2025, these courts clarified the legal duties that countries have to protect the planet for current and future generations. These landmark opinions create a strong, enforceable legal framework for
Within the cultural fabric of Syria and the wider Levant, a highly eloquent proverb condenses a profound political and social theory: "The stairs are washed from the top down." This report aims to deconstruct this dilemma through an in-depth analysis of the proverb's logic, a critical review of different theoretical models of state reform, and an examination of these models in light of concrete historical experiences.
On 8 December 2024, the Assad family regime collapsed in Syria. This report presents a central hypothesis: the collapse does not merely create a power vacuum but resurrects suppressed social structures and primary identities, tribal, sectarian, and regional, that were kept dormant under an iron security grip but never truly disappeared.
Thankfully, the immediate threat of the recent wildfires has subsided. Now, as the smoke clears, the true challenges facing our nation are laid bare. The government's responsibilities must shift from immediate crisis management to the complex, long-term task of recovery and building resilience.
Executive Summary Syria faces a devastating “polycrisis.” The growing impacts of climate change are deeply connected to years of poor governance, a brutal conflict lasting over a decade, and a severe economic collapse. This report argues these are not separate problems. Instead, they are part of a single, widespread failure. Environmental damage has both driven
Executive Summary Introduction Syria is at a crucial point. It faces the huge task of rebuilding after over a decade of conflict and the severe earthquakes of 2023. The country’s buildings and infrastructure have been badly damaged. Old problems in building practices and a lack of proper oversight have become very clear. This report reviews