World News: Syria to Make or Break

Details

Category: World News - Europe

Published on Thursday, 12 December 2024 10:51

Written by Olivier Longhi

The arrival of the HTS rebels in Damascus raises many questions, starting with that of the nature of the new regime. Democracy or democtature? And what about relations with border countries in a region already under tension?

Rid of the Al-Assad dynasty, Syria is no less encumbered by questions surrounding the rise to power of the Islamist rebels. While the latter have been trying for several days to show themselves in the best possible light, open to dialogue and quick to extricate Syria from the legacy of the Al-Assads, some are questioning the deep motivations of the HTS movement, which has therefore taken the country's destiny into its own hands.

Beltway Insider: Biden’s Laundry List, Pardons and More, Trump Cabinet Shakeup, Syria, Notre Dame

What about individual and fundamental freedoms? Women's rights? Relations with Israel, Turkey, Iran and the former ally Russia that has become a land of asylum for Al-Assad? These are all questions that remain unanswered at this time, but that the local geopolitical reality and the global situation will be eager to amend. Thus, the first task of the new government is to establish an effective and peaceful transfer of power between Bashar Al-Assad's former ministers and the new holders of power.

Open Democracy

Another project, and not the least, is to define the social and legal rules of a country that has been living since 1970 under the violent and bloody yoke of a family, the Al-Assads, whose methods have always been closer to those of a ferocious dictatorship than to a liberal democracy.

World News: French President Macron Faces No Confidence Vote, PM Out

And it is on this very specific point that Syria's new strongmen are expected. Will they set up a Western-style democracy or a kind of Russian-style democtature, comparable to that of Vladimir Putin? The aspirations of the Syrian people are great and strong, in gestation since the Arab Spring of 2011 when Tunisia and Egypt opened the ball of rebellion of peoples worn out by oppressive and disproportionately authoritarian regimes.

Alas! The years that followed saw the two countries fall back into their original mistakes where libertarian tendencies were confiscated by a power that looked democratic but in reality, castrating. It is precisely this step, this deviation, that Syria must avoid in order not to rewrite history dictated by the voice of the Islamist rebels of HTS.

And the Western nations are keeping an eye on the situation by taking a close interest in the future of Syria, which could then, if properly led, become a pivot and a credible regional relay in the Middle East capable of controlling Israel's impulses and impulses.

World News: Diplomatic Transformation and the Illusion of World Peace

Shared Past

At the same time, Western democracies would benefit even more from a Syria rebuilt on democratic foundations, especially France, which through its common past with Damascus, could find a strong ally in the Middle East, Paris which is struggling to make its voice heard in the region to the benefit of the United States and Russia.

Finally, the last project is international relations, in particular those to come with the neighbouring countries of Turkey, Jordan, Iraq, Israel and Lebanon. With the exception of Turkey and Jordan, all the other nations are mired in open or latent conflicts, of political or religious essence, if not both.

It is therefore up to Syria and its new government to play the right part to ensure its resurrection without offending neighbours who are likely in many respects. The task is exciting but immense, it remains to be seen whether the HTS rebels transformed into seemingly reasoned leaders will be able to face the challenge they face.

World News: Peace Lasts but a Minute

Bio: Olivier Longhi has extensive experience in European history. A seasoned journalist with fifteen years of experience, he is currently a professor of history and geography in the Toulouse region of France. He has held a variety of publishing positions, including Head of Agency and Chief of Publishing. A journalist and recognized blogger, editor, and editorial project manager, he has trained and managed editorial teams, worked as a journalist for various local radio stations, was a press and publishing consultant, and was a communications consultant.