I am happy to share my latest article for ‘Syria in Transition’ on the ‘National Guard’ initiative in the primarily Druze province of al-Suwayda’ in southern Syria.
Syria's transition these past nine months is a great case study in how to effectively utilize top-down political power to reshape narratives among the masses. Sharaa's weaponization of state media to present the Bedouins of Suwayda as the only victims is textbook yet effective.
I think that unifying the Suwayda factions to constitute a bulwark against any external threat should have been done long before the July offensive, even if the aim was to integrate into the new Syria. The lack of miilitary cohesion during the July offensive resulted in the rapid capture of hundreds of villages in the western and northern countrysides, retaking them without being forced into negotiations is nearly impossible without Israel, while rebuilding will take years if not decades.
A unified front of Druze in the same fashion as the SDF would have also given the Druze more leverage in negotiations with Damascus.
Hopefully now they can professionalize and expand their numbers so that the price of a military confrontation is enough to deter Damascus from further destructive offensives.
Great article!
Syria's transition these past nine months is a great case study in how to effectively utilize top-down political power to reshape narratives among the masses. Sharaa's weaponization of state media to present the Bedouins of Suwayda as the only victims is textbook yet effective.
I think that unifying the Suwayda factions to constitute a bulwark against any external threat should have been done long before the July offensive, even if the aim was to integrate into the new Syria. The lack of miilitary cohesion during the July offensive resulted in the rapid capture of hundreds of villages in the western and northern countrysides, retaking them without being forced into negotiations is nearly impossible without Israel, while rebuilding will take years if not decades.
A unified front of Druze in the same fashion as the SDF would have also given the Druze more leverage in negotiations with Damascus.
Hopefully now they can professionalize and expand their numbers so that the price of a military confrontation is enough to deter Damascus from further destructive offensives.