The outcome of Syria’s direction is yet uncertain, depending not only on the ‘true face’ of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, but more importantly on the strength of Syrian civil society. With the regime gone and HTS attempting to establish a government, Syrian activists and civil society groups are presented with a unique opportunity to reclaim their place and establish themselves as a powerful and stable force to ensure a free, inclusive and just future for Syria.
Almost immediately after HTS took power, Syrian citizens in Damascus took to the streets. Not only did they celebrate Assad’s departure and long-awaited freedom, they also seized the opportunity to manifest themselves towards the new government. Activists from the diaspora returned, (re)connected with society, and established initiatives to be part of a new chapter in Syria. As one activist put it: ‘Our dream is not to replace one dictator with another. I’m incredibly happy that Assad is gone. But this is not the end. We don’t just want a change in the portraits hanging in the streets. We want real change.’ Across the city, activists’ cafes are buzzling, gatherings are being held and political campaigns are being launched. Activists are vocal in their demand for freedom and justice.
The 2011 revolution in Syria triggered an explosion of civic initiatives. Activists across Syria trained themselves in the tactics and strategies of nonviolent resistance to bring an end to the Assad regime and to establish alternative governance structures. Assad correctly perceived this as an existential threat and responded to any form of dissent with extreme violence and repression.
Despite the regime’s brutal repression, civil resistance never entirely disappeared. Often, activists continued to organize resistance on a local level. Their efforts were not only addressed towards the regime but also included armed groups (including ISIS) that held power in various regions in the divided country. Civil society stepped in to fill in the gap that the authorities, the regime, armed groups and other de facto authorities, were either unable or unwilling to fill. More importantly, they kept alive the vision of an inclusive and free Syria for all.
In Idlib, activists experienced war and waves of repression by the regime, armed (Islamic) groups and ultimately HTS. In some instances they have been able to effectively push back against HTS. HTS partly gave in to the activists, not because they wholeheartedly supported the ideals, but because they could not afford to ignore or completely suppress the civil society that has been built.
With the Assad regime disappearing overnight, Syria now finds itself in a unique and critical situation. Syria is in transition: a new government is emerging, trying to organize itself, establishing structures and systems to govern a divided country. This transition phase offers a key opportunity to build upon the foundation that civil society has laid since 2011. It is a rare chance to (re)claim, expand and strengthen civic space and civil society in a way that the new rulers have to acknowledge and take into account.
Syria needs a political and inclusive transition where Syrian citizens and civil society take on their role as the best gatekeeper that prevents Syria from all forms of future dictatorships. The resilience of Syrian civil society is a promising sign, and international support should therefore be directed at facilitating and strengthening civil society in order to ensure the development of a free, inclusive and just Syria. We will further discuss the role of the international community and diaspora, sanctions, transformative justice and practical recommendations regarding inclusivity in the near future.