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Syria: Joy and Fear

What future for Syria, particularly for democratic aspirations? Looking at HTS and SNA’s policies in the past, they have not encouraged a democratic space to develop, but quite the opposite. They have been authoritarian. No trust should be given to such forces, quite the opposite.

“Only the self-organization of popular classes fighting for democratic and progressive demands will create that space and open a path toward actual liberation. Their capacity to do so, however, will have to overcome many obstacles from war fatigue to repression, poverty, and social dislocation. Only the development of civil society’s organizations (not narrowly defined as of NGOs but in a Gramscian sense of popular mass formations outside of the state) such a as trade unions, feminist organizations, local popular associations , etc… can constitute a political and social alternative for a democratic future…

Joy and fear are not contradictory feelings for the future of Syria. While it is important to remind everyone that Bashar al-Assad’s regime and its allies are the first responsibles for the mass killing of hundreds of thousands of civilians, mass displacement of civilians and destructions, deepening impoverishment and the current situation in Syria, the objective of the Syrian revolution is contrary to what said HTS leader, Jolani, in his interview with CNN, not only to overthrow this regime, but to build a society with democratic, equality and social aspirations. Otherwise we are only replacing one evil by another.”

—Joseph Dahr, professor, author and activist, 7 December 2024

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