Activist urges Syria to adopt decentralized system

Increasing calls from Syrian factions and prominent figures have urged abandoning the centralized system, widely regarded as a primary cause of the Syrian crisis. Centralization has fueled corruption and marginalized regions in favor of the capital, fostering an authoritarian regime that deprived Syrians of their rights and ignited tensions that led to civil war.

 Despite the fall of the previous regime, the transitional government has maintained centralized control, sidelining various societal groups and components. This approach raises fears of reproducing an even more repressive authority rooted in sectarian and religious divisions, potentially sparking new conflicts and further fragmenting the country.

Escalating Challenges

 In an interview with ANHA Agency, Ali Al-Amin Al-Suwaid noted, "Reconciliation efforts have reached a deadlock, primarily due to the absence of genuine initiatives from the Damascus government, which rejects power-sharing and democratic principles, trusting only its inner circle and relatives."

He argued that this insular governmental approach has necessitated the demonization of dissenting Syrian factions through various means, labeling them as "remnants" in the coastal regions, "separatists" in NE Syria, or "traitors and Israeli agents" in the city of Suweida.

Al-Suwaid warned, "This escalating scenario will only deepen sectarian or ethnic entrenchment, not out of preference but as a means of self-defense and survival. Under these circumstances, decentralization emerges as the optimal path to safeguard all parties and avoid internal conflicts in which Syrians will not be the victors."

Al-Suwaid explained that under Ba'ath Party rule, Syria was effectively transformed into a fiefdom, exploited by those who maintained control through force and fear under pretexts divorced from reality. "The Assad regime covertly entrenched divisions among the population, enabling it to plunder Syria and deprive its people of economic, political, cultural, and civil liberties," he said.

He noted that Hafez al-Assad established a system that allowed him to rule with an iron grip, presenting himself as an unassailable leader. This necessitated immense sacrifices, including hundreds of thousands of martyrs and the destruction of Syria, underscoring the need to avoid repeating the centralized governance experiment.

 Al-Suwaid cautioned, "Should the government attempt to enforce a centralized model by force, Syria risks entering a new phase of civil war or remaining a quasi-state plagued by further economic collapse, diminishing the capacity of Syrians both domestically and abroad, and rendering them dependent on international aid."

Al-Suwaid emphasized that "Syria can only overcome its bottleneck by devising a uniquely Syrian decentralized governance system. Decentralization varies globally; while federalism, confederalism, and unionism are forms of decentralization, they differ significantly. Each decentralized system is tailored to secure the interests of all within a nation. Germany and the United States are decentralized but distinct in their approaches."

He concluded, "Syria requires a convening of its diverse societal leaders to design a Syrian decentralized model that preserves the state, safeguards citizens' rights, strengthens their commitment to national options, and fosters greater loyalty to the homeland."

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ANHA