Kanaan Barakat: DAA is democratic alternative to Syrian crisis

Amid the complexities of the Syrian crisis and the accumulations of centralized governance over decades, the model of the Autonomous Administration in NE Syria emerges as one of the most prominent alternative democratic experiments. Kanaan Barakat, Co-Chair of the Peoples Democratic Council, stresses that this experiment does not represent a separatist project but a vision for building a decentralized, pluralistic Syrian state that responds to the diversity and aspirations of society through local, security, and service institutions.

Barakat stated that the Syrian crisis revealed the need for a radical change in the structure of the state and the constitution, explaining:

"The system is not about a person, but about the constitution on which it is based. Hence, the necessity to draft a new constitution and a social contract that aligns with the reality of the diverse Syrian society, with its cultures, languages, and components."

He pointed out that NE Syria was pioneering in building an alternative model based on Autonomous Administration and local governance, noting: "The community began to organize itself through local and security institutions, from internal security forces and community protection institutions to the Syrian Democratic Forces. These entities do not represent a single faction but reflect the societal spirit and protect all components, unlike traditional armies that protected only the authority and interests of a narrow group."

Barakat explained that the Autonomous Administration established a system starting with the first societal cell, the “commune,” which includes dozens of families within a specific geographical area. The organization then extends to the neighborhood, the district, and finally the region.

He said: "Through this horizontal and broad sequence, true democracy is embodied, allowing all groups to manage their own affairs."

He added that local democracy means "people governing themselves through societal organization and establishing cultural, service, and economic institutions, as well as professional unions," emphasizing that this model limits central authority and strengthens popular participation.

He pointed out that since its establishment, the Autonomous Administration has succeeded in building integrated political, military, economic, and judicial institutions, while other areas suffer from lack of organization, chaos, and absence of effective judicial and administrative institutions.

On the possibility of applying the Autonomous Administration model across Syria, Barakat explained that applying it nationwide faces challenges due to the Damascus government’s attachment to old policies. He stressed that adopting the concept of self-administration does not mean secession or division, but is part of a vision based on a decentralized, pluralistic democratic Syria.

He clarified that the social contract of the Autonomous Administration states that it is part of the Democratic Republic of Syria, and that the main languages in its regions are Arabic, Kurdish, and Syriac. He emphasized that the Autonomous Administration represents a democratic alternative to the Syrian crisis.

Barakat concluded: "The Autonomous Administration model is not an impossible project. If there is a genuine will for change, a democratic state can be built that meets the aspirations of all Syrians, because decisions affecting people's lives should come from their local institutions, not from a distant center that does not know their specificities."

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ANHA