Hassan Mohammed Ali signals end of centralized rule, rise of decentralized governance

The meeting, organized by the SDC’s Public Relations Office, was held at its Aleppo center in Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood and attended by representatives of several Syrian political parties, alongside Hassan Mohammed Ali.

Hassan opened his remarks by emphasizing the need for political transparency from all parties, noting that this responsibility primarily falls on the SDC amid the proliferation of media narratives “driven by hired outlets promoting information according to their dissemination policies.”

He noted that the Middle East is moving toward transformation, a trend evidenced by historical developments, beginning with practical measures during the First Gulf War and the fall of the Iraqi Ba’athist regime.

Centralized Systems No Longer Suitable

Hassan argued that the states formed after the Sykes-Picot era are no longer compatible with the globalization phase and the rapid evolution of the global economic system and the information revolution. This incompatibility has prompted actors benefiting from these developments to intervene in the region since the 1990s, proposing new territorial divisions under various labels, including “New Middle East” and “Greater Middle East.”

He explained that the current borders are no longer functional, and the primary objective is to apply the European model to the region, transforming rigid borders into flexible ones to serve the needs of the global economic system.

Hassan asserted that actors promoting globalization and the global economic system seized the opportunity presented by the Arab Spring to implement their policies, dismantle previously established regimes, and create natural entities that benefited from weakened central authority. He cited examples such as Libya’s fragmented borders with Chad, Yemen’s division into entities, and multiple Syrian entities, particularly Turkish-influenced areas that have become transboundary.

Turkey’s Inability Forces Kurdish Negotiations

Hassan highlighted Iran’s role in facilitating cross-border influence, particularly through the Shiite Crescent project, stretching from Tehran to Sana’a via Damascus, Beirut, and Baghdad. However, Iran’s multiple interventions ultimately weakened its position and undermined the so-called “Axis of Resistance.”

Regarding Turkey, once proud of its “zero problems” foreign policy under Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, Hassan noted that its unjustified interventions turned it into a target after Iran. However, Turkey’s confrontation differs from Iran’s; it is primarily political rather than military. Facing containment, Turkey sought dialogue with Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan as a strategic alternative after failing to resolve the Kurdish issue through force.

Trade and Economy Open the Borders

Hassan also noted Turkey’s exclusion from major economic initiatives, including the Indo-European corridor, due to its unsupportive positions. He emphasized that centralized states cannot ensure stability, and without an environment conducive to trade and investment, their future cannot be extended. He referenced statements by Tom Barrack regarding the end of the Sykes-Picot era, as well as former U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks that European powers would no longer lecture regional states, implying greater interregional trade and connectivity.

Decentralized Syria is Coming

Hassan concluded that political borders in Syria will not be redrawn but will become flexible, while the centralized state model, which hinders regional trade, will be replaced by decentralization. Syria, given its geostrategic significance, will play a key role in this transformation. He noted that Turkey previously functioned as a “proto-Israel” model against the Soviet Union; following the USSR’s collapse, Turkey lost much of its strategic influence. Currently, economic actors, particularly Gulf states, are the primary regional drivers shaping policy.

Actors Blocking the Paris Dialogue

Regarding the relocation of negotiations between Northeast Syrian representatives and the Transitional Government from Paris, Hassan claimed that British interests aim to protect their regional stakes by supporting the Muslim Brotherhood, whose strongholds include London and previously Cairo. Turkey, aligned with this current, obstructed the Paris dialogue, whereas France and the United States favored placing a decentralization model on the table.

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ANHA