The Take One year after al-Assad’s fall, is a new Syria emerging?
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Dec 8, 2025 Leila Nachawati, a communications professor and author of "When the Revolution is Over," shares her insights after returning to Syria for the first time in 15 years. She discusses the harsh realities facing Syrians, such as inflation and community distrust, alongside the need for transitional justice and women's leadership in these efforts. Their struggles with identifying missing persons and the impact of prison photographs highlight the urgency for accountability. Leila's reflections reveal how fiction intersects with memory and the ongoing quest for a new Syria.
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Return After 15 Years
- Leila Nachawati returned to Syria for the first time in 15 years and felt the fear that once dominated places like Damascus airport had vanished.
- She described emotional reunions with elderly relatives and the surreal experience of walking streets she avoided for years.
Sanctions Hurt People More Than Regime
- Sanctions have isolated Syria financially but largely failed to stop regime resources and harmful practices like drug production.
- The population suffered severe inflation and cash devaluation while the state found alternative income streams.
Regional Interests Shape Syria's Future
- Syria's internal progress is heavily shaped by neighbouring and global powers pushing competing agendas.
- External meddling raises the risk of renewed conflict and deepens domestic polarization.
