US researcher: Mother-tongue education, addressing grievances prevent renewed conflict in Syria

Amy Austin Holmes, a U.S. researcher and research professor at George Washington University, said during the first day of the MERI Forum 2026 in Hawler, Southern Kurdistan, that conflicts often resurface when underlying grievances and complaints remain unaddressed.

She noted that highly centralized governance was one of the factors that contributed to the outbreak of the previous conflict in Syria. She stressed the need to address this issue and strengthen political, economic and cultural participation to reduce the likelihood of renewed conflict.

On education, Holmes emphasized the importance of providing instruction in people's mother tongues. She explained that offering education in Kurdish and Aramaic, alongside Arabic, could help reduce school dropout rates and improve literacy levels.

The 2026 Middle East Research Institute (MERI) Forum opened today in Hawler, in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Organized by the Middle East Research Institute, the two-day event brings together officials, political and diplomatic figures, academics and researchers from Iraq, Syria and countries across the region and the world to discuss current political, security and economic developments and regional challenges.

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ANHA