What will become of Syria?

The fall of the Assad regime shook the world in December 2024. Since then, a new government has taken power and many sanctions have been lifted. But the new leadership's history of terrorism has raised serious doubts. After several brutal massacres of minorities, any initial sense of euphoria has dissipated—but hope for a new beginning endures.

For this collaboration with the magazine Kulturaustausch, we invited a number of prominent Syrian writers to share their perspectives.

In his essay, Yassin al-Haj Saleh writes: "Tyranny and sectarianism almost inevitably lead to genocidal violence." Is the situation hopeless? Will Syria once again slide into civil war and permanent division? Or is renewal possible after decades of dictatorship?

The answers are complex and often contradictory. We don't claim to have them ourselves; instead, we give the floor to our mostly Syrian authors and interviewees.

Political scientist Rahaf Aldoughli, in an interview, calls for a genuine national dialogue that ensures political participation for minorities. Past injustices must be addressed, she argues, and those responsible brought before a court of law.

Writer and feminist Sarah Hunaidi, in a deeply personal essay, urges Syrians to place the principle of "participation over fear." Otherwise, she warns, "Assad will have won, even in his absence."

Sociologist Mohammed Bamyeh believes that renewal is within reach. But he, too, warns: "If people don't have a shared narrative, resentments endure."

That's why journalist Kristin Helberg travelled to Kafr Nabl, once a stronghold of the Syrian resistance. She stresses the need to keep the memory of the revolution alive, so that its ideals can shape the country's transformation today.

More articles from the issue:

To stay, to leave, to return
by Mayar Mohanna

Dictatorship, dispossession and a missing mosaic
by Qusay Awad

Where Damascus goes to breathe
by Ahmad Katlesh