The first anniversary of the overthrow of the Assad regime and the establishment of a new one in its place passed recently, for a population who had lived through decades of control, oppression and coercion. Through all of this, a process of change took place, shaping the image of new Syria in the last year.
In a broader context, Syria's transformation began with the fall of the Assad regime and the collapse of its institutions and apparatus. It seemed natural that its fierce military and security forces would be at the forefront of this collapse, disappearing and disintegrating entirely within a few hours on the morning of December 8, 2024. This is perhaps a true indication that these institutions were not institutions of the Syrian state and people, as they should have been, but rather institutions of the Assad regime.
Naturally, all this had repercussions on the reality and trajectory of the remaining institutions in Syria, most of which ceased functioning and their performance shrank to a minimum. Concurrent with this negative development was the dismissal of many officials in these institutions from their positions and responsibilities, due to perceived ties between these institutions and their employees with the fallen regime.
It was natural for the new regime to focus on addressing the collapse and dysfunction of institutions and agencies. The new forces and their security apparatus replaced Assad's army and its agencies successively, and the process of restructuring and rebuilding ministries and departments began, along with training new personnel and reinstating veteran employees. This allowed many of them to operate, albeit at reduced capacity, but under new rules aimed at serving citizens and moving away from the corruption that characterized the institutions and agencies of the Assad regime.
The change in the institutions and agencies which was the primary concern of the new authority represents only one aspect of the transformation process. In fact, other changes have begun to emerge and continue deep within society. Some of these changes are proceeding in cooperation with the new authority's agencies and institutions, as is the case with civil society organizations. These organizations strive in various ways to help Syrian society overcome its difficult circumstances in a wide range of fields, including education, relief, training, and services. These fields are similar to other activities needed by local communities, undertaken by young people and activists in Syrian cities and villages to improve the living standards of residents through socio-economic development programs. These programs include training, consultations, funding for small projects, and the establishment of educational courses that cover not only the traditional curriculum but also modern education in software, networks, AI and e-marketing, all of which belonging to sciences and specializations that were not prevalent in Syria due to the policies of the former regime, which isolated Syrians and closed off their communication with the world.
It is noteworthy that the sum of informal change efforts is witnessed by multiple sources. Estimates indicate that a limited portion of it comes from foreign organizations, and more importantly, from local sources, provided by Syrian expatriate businessmen and financiers. Young men and women volunteer their efforts, abilities, and whatever money they can provide to run their programs.
The ongoing Syrian change, despite the surrounding circumstances and problems, can be described as a comprehensive and profound transformation of the society, the state, and the authorities, because it generates new features for each of the three, and opens the doors to different policies and practices in the political, economic, and social aspects of life.
Many Syrians who are following the change, whether with hope or concern, agree that it will not be easy and smooth, but rather diverse and difficult, with many obstacles, not limited to the legacy of the Assad regime and what the regime’s war on Syrians left behind in terms of killing, displacement, destruction of resources and capabilities, loss of cadres, and international sanctions.
The Syrian change also requires modernizing administrative and technical departments and cadres, especially in sectors including communications, banking, and others. For sure, all of this will impose heavy costs on Syrians, and require a new authority, capable groups, and international community to provide serious assistance that goes beyond relief to reviving the role of the lower classes and helping them to participate in the process of recovery and transition towards a modern society, with justice, equality, and participation, and free from totalitarianism and corruption.