Post-Assad Syria
The Post-Assad Syria project works to develop U.S. policy on Syria, supporting the recovering nation while advancing U.S. regional interests. After more than a decade of devastating conflict, Syria faces the immense challenges of rebuilding governance structures, addressing widespread displacement, and forging a viable political future from deeply fractured conditions. Policy within the project is crafted through multifaceted analysis and rigorous research revolving around the central themes of equitable governance, transitional justice, reconstruction, and the Kurdish question. The project works toward building a stable Syrian nation in the best interests of the Syrian people who have endured unimaginable tragedies, while ensuring that U.S. engagement supports both humanitarian outcomes and strategic objectives.
Governance, Justice, and Reconstruction
Syria’s transition requires governance frameworks that incorporate the diverse communities marginalized or targeted during the conflict. The project analyzes pathways to equitable political representation, institutional reform, and the rule of law in a post-Assad context. This project also examines reconstruction priorities, assessing how international assistance can support recovery without entrenching exclusionary power structures or enabling actors hostile to U.S. interests. This integrated approach ensures that governance, justice, and reconstruction efforts reinforce rather than undermine one another.
The Kurdish Question and Regional Dynamics
The status of Kurdish populations in northeastern Syria remains one of the most complex and consequential issues shaping the country’s future. The project analyzes how Kurdish governance structures, security forces, and political aspirations intersect with the interests of the Syrian state, neighboring Turkey, and the United States. By examining potential arrangements that balance Kurdish autonomy with Syrian territorial integrity and regional stability, the project provides policymakers with options for navigating this sensitive issue. Research also addresses broader regional dynamics, ensuring that U.S. policy toward Syria accounts for the interests and concerns of neighboring states and regional partners.
