The tendency to attribute the sectarian tensions observed in the Syrian public sphere over the past two years solely to recent political developments reflects an incomplete understanding of the deeper structural roots of this phenomenon. These tensions are not merely the outcome of the regime’s collapse; rather, they represent the cumulative effect of decades of authoritarian governance under the Baath Party. Over this period, the regime systematically reshaped Syria’s social fabric to ensure its own continuity by cultivating local leaderships loyal to its authority, reinforcing pervasive security control, and concentrating economic power within selectively chosen networks designed to sustain societal fragmentation and suppress any independent political mobilization.
Within this context, any serious political settlement in Syria remains fundamentally incomplete without the establishment of an inclusive national identity that Syrians collectively endorse and that articulates their shared vision for the country’s future. In the absence of such a foundational framework, current proposals resemble provisional arrangements that generate a fragile and unstable form of peace—one that is susceptible to collapse and likely to reproduce cycles of violence while deepening social divisions in the foreseeable future.
The formation of this inclusive national identity requires a comprehensive and systematic examination of the structures of all Syrian communities, alongside the identification of shared elements and points of convergence. This process necessarily includes an informed understanding of existing conflicts and their dynamics, undertaken in partnership with local councils and administrative bodies. Such an approach constitutes a critical entry point for rebuilding trust, enhancing meaningful participation in decision‑making processes, and establishing the foundations for sustainable and long‑term stability.
Absent such a trajectory, the country will remain vulnerable to external actors seeking to exploit Syria’s structural fragility by amplifying sectarian discourse, intensifying societal fragmentation, and undermining the prospects for a genuine and durable political resolution.
Jubran Mahmoud Hamza is a Syrian dentist and political activist who helped organise the first protests in Al-Karama Square in Suwayda. He is currently a member of the Political Bureau of the Dalil Movement.