Announcing the Syria Transition Lab at the Middle East Initiative

Dear Colleagues,
 
One year ago this month, on December 8, 2024, the regime of Bashar al-Assad—which over the past decade has visited untold death, destruction, and despair upon the Syrian people—was finally brought to an end. Though that day will long be remembered as a moment of victory, those of you who remember the saga of the so-called Arab Spring know that the overthrow of a dictator marks as much the beginning of a drama as the end of one.

At this moment of hope and peril for the people of Syria, I am therefore pleased to announce a new effort of the Middle East Initiative to contribute to the goal of a peaceful and prosperous Syria. The Syria Transition Lab is dedicated to building knowledge about Syria’s evolving political landscape and to helping Syrians navigate the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.

What happens in Syria will prove consequential for the region and the world. If Ahmad al-Sharaa—a former al-Qaeda fighter—manages to usher in a government that respects the rights of Syrians, allows them to participate in decision-making, and is inclusive of everyone in that country’s diverse sectarian and ethnic landscape, scholars and analysts will be forced to rethink old assumptions about who can and cannot be trusted with democracy. If the new Syrian government manages to bring a definitive end to the violence that has plagued that land, millions of displaced Syrians might then return home, easing the strain on social fabrics and safety nets throughout Europe and the Middle East. And if Syriamanages to remain free of malign foreign influences, the ranks of moderate, constructive regional partners will have gained a most important new member.

The Syria Transition Lab will draw on a deep pool of talent housed at the Middle East Initiative, including Senior Fellow Edward Djerejian, former U.S. ambassador to Syria; Visiting Scholar Andrew March, a leading student of Arab political thought; and Adrienne Fricke, a specialist in human rights law with nearly 30 years of experience in Syria. The project will be spearheaded by Ibrahim al-Assil, Senior Research Fellow at MEI, who brings deep personal, scholarly, and practical experience to this work. Born and raised in Syria, he has spent the last 14 years examining governance, political change, and regional geopolitics across the Levant and the Gulf. A graduate of the Kennedy School with a Doctorate in International Relations from Johns Hopkins SAIS, he is a founding member and former president of the Syrian Nonviolence Movement, and has advised U.S. and European policymakers; participated in Track II dialogues; and engaged extensively with civil society and grassroots actors across the region. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work closely with him on this project.

To mark this new initiative, we are today introducing Syria Transition Briefs, featuring concise, timely analysis from leading voices on Syria’s transition. The first Brief—written by MEI Senior Fellow Ambassador Edward P. Djerejian—offers deeply considered insights into the regional dynamics shaping Syria’s next chapter. Watch for more such briefs in the coming days. To read these briefs, and to be kept apprised of the Transition Lab’s work, please visit our website here. 

We look forward to sharing more as this initiative develops, and we welcome the engagement of all who are committed to advancing thoughtful, policy-relevant scholarship on Syria at this momentous point in its history. 
 

Wishing you all the best, 

Tarek Masoud
Ford Foundation Professor of Democracy and Governance
Faculty Chair, Middle East Initiative