Political Analyst: Syria’s future hinges on democracy, decentralized governance

ANHA Agency conducted an interview with writer and political analyst from Sweida, Jamal Darwish, in which he discussed Syria’s political future amid ongoing transformations. He placed particular emphasis on the need to democratize the state as a prerequisite for stability, and also addressed the importance of adopting administrative and political decentralization as a framework for governing the country, as well as its role in empowering local communities and enhancing participation in decision-making.

Darwish began by reflecting on the Syrian experience, comparing it to the trajectories of historic revolutions. He noted that “the French Revolution required nearly a century to achieve stability. Despite its success on the ground, it failed for a long time to establish the principles of freedom and justice before eventually realizing its goals.”

He explained that applying this experience to Syria shows that the Syrian revolution succeeded in neutralizing the “tyrant,” but failed to entrench the principles of freedom, justice, and national unity. He said one of the main reasons for this failure was the rise of hardline groups that adopted an extremist Islamist project contradicting the core values of the Syrian revolution, making the achievement of its goals even more difficult.

He pointed out that the options available to Syrians today must begin with agreement on a new social contract founded on constitutional guarantees, transfer of power, and political pluralism, leading to a genuinely democratic state.

Darwish added that the Syrian people who rose up in 2011 aspired to a state based on law and justice, yet the scale of sacrifices made over more than 14 years has not been matched by equivalent achievements, except for the fall of the previous regime and the emergence of an alternative authority which, he said, does not believe in building a modern state as much as it seeks to create a “subordinate functional state.”

On the model of governance, Darwish expressed clear support for transferring real powers to the regions within a framework of administrative decentralization, considering it the most effective form of governance for enabling local communities to manage their own affairs.

He explained that decentralization does not merely mean redistributing powers, but also contributes to justice and efficiency, improves administrative performance, increases transparency and accountability, and eases the burden on the central administration in Damascus.

He also said this model strengthens community participation and makes citizens genuine partners in political decision-making, noting that decentralization is now adopted in many democratic countries around the world.

In a related context, Darwish stressed that political or social stability in Syria cannot be achieved without the participation of all components in the political process. He rejected claims portraying decentralization as a gateway to partition, arguing that such fears are sometimes used by authorities to monopolize decision-making. By contrast, he said excessive centralization forces communities to live under one system through the pressure of security agencies, while a decentralized or federal system offers a real opportunity for participation in decision-making.

He affirmed that empowering local administrations strengthens national unity on the basis of justice and participation, and reduces existential fears among different communities. He pointed out that recent years in Syria have witnessed rising tensions and social clashes in several areas such as the coast, Sweida, and east of the Euphrates, increasing fear and anxiety among citizens.

Assessing the causes behind the accumulation of crises, Darwish said centralization of decision-making is a major factor in deepening these crises. He explained that the central authority is incapable of addressing all regional problems, whereas local councils or administrative bodies are better able to understand their needs and solve their own problems, in line with the principle that “the people of Mecca know its paths best.”

On the future of Syria’s unity, he stressed that preserving unity is not limited to administrative form alone, but requires criminalizing sectarian discourse, strengthening civil peace, and guaranteeing the participation of all components in any political process. He warned that continued exclusion would produce an even more extreme form of centralization—something Syrians, he said, will no longer accept.

In conclusion, writer and political analyst Jamal Darwish stressed that political and administrative decentralization represents a fundamental guarantee for ending exclusion and building an inclusive state based on the election of provincial councils, municipalities, and local administrative bodies, while sovereign powers remain in the hands of the central government. At the same time, broad authority over service, economic, administrative, and security affairs would be granted to the regions, thereby consolidating a participatory model of state governance.

ANHA