“Syria: A New Era?”A New Issue of the Jordanian Journal of Politics and Society Explores Post-Assad Transformations
The Politics and Society Institute has published the third issue of its biannual publication, the Jordanian Journal of Politics and Society (JPS), under the title “Syria: A New Era?”. This special issue examines the political, security, and economic transformations unfolding in Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024, and the wide-ranging local and regional implications across the Middle East.
In his foreword to the issue, former Jordanian Prime Minister Abdul Karim al-Kabariti describes current developments in Syria as a rare opportunity to redefine the concepts of statehood, security, and regional alliances. He argues that the absence of a unified Arab vision has allowed an extensive foreign intervention and stresses the importance of Jordan taking a leading role in shaping a new approach toward Syria based on realism and national interest rather than emotion or nostalgia.
The issue opens with an exclusive interview with Dr Radwan Ziadeh, a prominent Syrian intellectual specialising in political transition. He outlines the key features of the transitional period in Syria and emphasises the need to establish a democratic system based on equal citizenship and free from sectarian quotas. The interview also covers transitional justice and refugee return, with Dr Ziadeh praising Jordan’s role in supporting stability and reconstruction. He sees Syria’s new leadership, under Ahmad al-Sharaa, as a crucial stabilising force in this phase.
The issue features an array of in-depth analyses. Dr Najeeb Ghadbian explores the challenges of transitional governance in Syria, focusing on the interim constitutional process as a reflection of the stages of democratic transformation. Researcher Maen Tallaa examines the Syrian military doctrine, calling for a comprehensive restructuring of the army to ensure professionalism and power balance, away from sectarianism. Economist Dr Sinan Hatahet proposes a framework for rebuilding Syria’s post-sanctions economy, highlighting the roles of the private sector and small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as the need to reform infrastructure in communications, finance, and logistics.
This is followed by an analysis by Dr. Abdulrahman al-Haj on the challenges of state-building in Syria and how President Ahmad al-Shar’a is attempting to address them. The article discusses the consolidation of state institutions, the marginalization of deep-state power centers, the cumulative construction of political legitimacy, and the strategy adopted to unify a fragmented country and bring peripheral areas under central control. It also examines security issues and the reconstruction of the army and sovereign security agencies as both a challenge and an opportunity for building state institutions, in addition to efforts to dismantle the legacy of war and the Assad regime era. Al-Haj offers a critical perspective on the state-building processes, drawing from his direct experience. In the same context, Researcher Osama Sheikh Ali examines the future of the Kurdish issue in northeastern Syria, warning of a potential strategic vacuum due to the lack of national consensus, and advocating for the inclusion of Kurdish demands within a unified national project.
In a different vein, Dr Mohammad Abu Rumman investigates the transformation of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) from a jihadist group into a political entity. He questions the extent and limits of this evolution and the potential for Islamist movements to integrate into a new regional order, analysing the implications for political Islam in the Middle East. On Jordanian–Syrian economic relations, Dr Ghazi Al-Assaf assesses the impact of lifting sanctions on Syria in May 2025, viewing it as a strategic opportunity for Jordan in the sectors of trade, transport, and investment. He notes Jordan’s significant losses during the Syrian war. Still, he suggests that the Port of Aqaba and the Jaber crossing could become vital arteries for Syria’s reconstruction, advocating for the establishment of a joint economic commission in collaboration with Gulf and European partners.
At the regional level, Dr Walid Habbas offers a critical reading of Israeli policy toward post-Assad Syria by analysing official rhetoric and military movements in the south. He highlights Israel’s efforts to exploit Syrian fragmentation to maintain border influence. Dr Bilgen Öztürk discusses Türkiye’s new strategic calculus, explaining how Ankara has shifted from a policy of containment to strategic engagement. He argues that Assad’s fall marked the end of a geopolitical nightmare for Türkiye, reopening access to the “Arab depth” and enabling a reset of security tensions. Hasan Jaber analyses developments in Jordanian–Syrian relations, focusing on the outcomes of the Higher Coordination Council’s establishment and enhanced cooperation on water and energy, portraying it as a model for institutionalised post-conflict regional cooperation that could inspire a new integrative vision for the Levant.
Dr Firas Elias examines Iraq’s role in the Syrian issue, focusing on security entanglements in the Badia Desert, Iranian-backed factions, and the need for tripartite coordination among Jordan, Iraq, and Syria to secure borders and confront disruptive actors. From a Gulf perspective, Dr Ali Bakir outlines shifts in GCC policies towards Syria, noting the convergence between Qatari and Saudi positions in support of Syria’s new government. He argues that Gulf states hold a pivotal opportunity in reconstruction efforts while warning against overlooking Israeli interests in the Syrian scene.
Additionally, Azerbaijani researcher Lala Khalilzada writes about the growing rapprochement between Damascus and Baku, following more than a decade of estrangement. She highlights Azerbaijan’s symbolic diplomatic and humanitarian initiatives aimed at contributing to Syria’s reconstruction, particularly in the fields of energy, agriculture, and education, framed within an Islamic partnership and coordinated role with Türkiye. Farah Abu ‘Ayadeh addresses the complex issue of Syrian refugee return from Jordan, focusing on the economic challenges inside Syria and the living conditions that shape return decisions, while proposing ways to support voluntary and safe return.
Ari Naegel assesses the trajectory of U.S. policy toward the new Syria, arguing that the lifting of sanctions reflects a strategic American pivot aimed at curbing Iranian influence, empowering regional partners like Jordan, and ensuring stability in Syria in line with Washington’s security interests. The issue concludes with a critical review by Abrar Al-Obuwaini of the second volume of Farouk Al-Sharaa’s memoirs, which reveals previously undisclosed insights into the inner workings of the Assad regime between 2000 and 2015—especially concerning Lebanon, Iraq, and the Arab Spring—rendering the memoirs a rare document for understanding the logic of governance under Assad.
In conclusion, the issue underscores that Syria and the broader region are at a historic crossroads, one that necessitates moving beyond traditional paradigms toward more inclusive visions grounded in partnership, citizenship, and justice. It also emphasises the critical role of regional and international actors in supporting this transition politically, economically, and on the humanitarian front.
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