Social Cohesion cornerstone for rebuilding trust, stability in Syrian society

Amid the social and political challenges facing Syria, calls are growing to strengthen social cohesion among the various components of society, as it is considered a fundamental factor in supporting stability and restoring trust.

Social and educational activist Mohammad Bashir Hassan Al-Hashemi pointed out that social cohesion constitutes a key element in supporting security and stability in Syria, particularly given the country’s ethnic, religious, and cultural diversity.

Al-Hashemi emphasized that strengthening social cohesion helps overcome crises, wars, and hate speech, while fostering harmony among different societal groups. He added that Syria is capable of embracing all its components and providing them with protection despite ongoing challenges.

He further stressed that social cohesion represents a fundamental pillar in enabling state institutions to perform their duties efficiently.

Al-Hashemi warned that the absence of social cohesion could lead to social fragmentation, increased conflicts, and the spread of sectarian tensions, negatively impacting social stability through the proliferation of chaos, underdevelopment, poverty, and civil wars—potentially leading to collapse.

He also noted that enhancing social cohesion contributes to rebuilding trust among the components of Syrian society, which has historically been known for its core values of solidarity, affection, and mutual respect. He added that sectarian and ethnic divisions are alien phenomena to this society and have been fueled by hostile actors.

Al-Hashemi highlighted that Syria is in urgent need of collective action to rebuild after years of war and destruction, affirming that social cohesion is a positive and essential factor in accelerating reconstruction efforts.

For his part, human rights activist Majed Al-Koko stated that social cohesion is one of the most important pillars of stability in any country and can strengthen resilience in the face of crises and conflicts.

He stressed the importance of promoting a culture of cohesion through media outlets, civil society organizations, and awareness campaigns, warning that its absence leads to societal fragmentation and opens the door to hate speech and incitement, which could ultimately result in civil wars.

He concluded by affirming that strengthening social ties among the components of Syrian society would help rebuild trust and consolidate stability in the coming phase.

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ANHA