Date: Wednesday 29 October | Location: Online Webinar | Time: 14:00 – 15:00 (UTC)

Syria stands at a crossroads: fractured, not only by the legacy of war, but also by the unresolved tensions between the Damascus government and its peripheral regions.

• In the northeast, the Syrian Democratic Council and the central authorities signed a landmark agreement in March, brokered with US support, to integrate Kurdish-led institutions into the Syrian state. It marked a historic recognition of Kurdish rights and citizenship, but its implementation remains fragile.
• In the south, recent violent clashes between Druze fighters and Bedouin tribes exposed deep social fissures, exacerbated by the government siding with the Bedouins and Israel’s interventions to support the Druze. The severely damaged intercommunal relations prompted a trilateral agreement involving the central government, Druze leadership and Jordan to restore stability and reintegrate Sweida into the national framework.
• On the coast, tensions erupted between Alawi communities and government forces, resulting in over 1,400 deaths. The official inquiry acknowledged mass atrocities and referred nearly 300 suspects for prosecution but did not address institutional failures at senior levels.

By analysing the Assad dynasty’s legacy and the lasting tensions between central and regional authorities, the webinar will offer insights into the challenges facing Syria’s government as it seeks to rebuild the country and begin the process of reconstruction in earnest.

The webinar will cover:

• The evolving political landscape
• The nature of governance, the question of inclusivity, and the pathway to elections
• Prospects for stability and reform
• How external relations will determine Syria’s future
• How the above factors will impact the business environment
• Steps the government is taking to attract foreign businesses and investment

Speaker

Dr Neil Quilliam is a leading authority on energy and geopolitics of the Middle East, with over two decades of experience advising governments, international organisations, and private sector clients. He is Managing Director at Azure Strategy and serves as an Associate Fellow with the Middle East and North Africa programme at Chatham House. Neil previously held senior roles at Chatham House, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Rapidan Energy Group, Control Risks and the United Nations University. He frequently provides expert analysis on Middle East politics for international broadcasters and writes regularly for leading energy sector publications. Amongst many other publications, Neil is the author of the forthcoming book Syria’s Revolution Fulfilled: The Demise of the Assads (Reaktion Books, 2025) and recently published Syria: Realism in Action (Agenda, 2024).