THE KURDISH CENTRE FOR STUDIES -

Syrian politics today is based on a concept of fait accompli whose actual consequences are difficult to comprehend. It seems that the various parties in Syria have been convinced that the so-called new administration in Damascus has sufficient regional and international support for its survival. Therefore, it is not wise to radically oppose it, but […]

Turkey insists on considering the ‘new Syria’ as an area under its influence, with the political system therein as supportive and subordinate to Ankara. From this perspective, Turkey endeavors to penetrate all segments and institutions of the Syrian state, creating a strong interconnectedness between the various structures within Syria and the administrative and managerial institutions—both […]

Sırrı Süreyya Önder‘s life did not have the heroic beginnings often woven into the biographies of public figures. There was no hint of an extraordinary destiny, nor any indication that a child from the depths of Anatolia would one day become a symbol of resisting authority. In fact, there was nothing remarkable about that beginning—just […]

It is impossible to interpret the sectarian conflicts that occurred in Western Europe without considering the economic factor. During the French Civil War (1562-1598) between Catholics and Protestants (Huguenots), the Huguenots formed the backbone of the emerging capitalist class, while the Catholics, who were the majority of the population, consisted mainly of peasants loyal to […]

The hard- to- explain flurry of visits paid to the Syria capital by regional and global powers since the rise to power of Ahmed al-Sharaa late in December 2024 transcends by all appearances Syria’s national borders. Syria’s hard-to-define state of affairs since the December blitzkrieg, which saw the collapse of the regime of Bashar Assad, […]

Exile was a common political practice in ancient Athens, carried out through a tradition called (ostrakízein), in which voters would carve the name of a leader who had become too powerful or arrogant on a piece of pottery. The individual who received the most votes was expelled from Athens for ten years. It is said […]

Since the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian war, Turkey has sought to position itself as a key diplomatic mediator in one of the most complex crises of this century. This mediation did not happen spontaneously but resulted from Turkey’s long-term positioning between Russia on one side and NATO and the West on the other, which provided […]

At the top of the many priorities of the authority in Damascus (led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, as it should always be reminded) is the narrative of “extending the state’s control over all areas of the country.” This means that the government/state, through security forces and factions that comprise the “Syrian regular army,” must control […]

Ankara greeted Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election with joy and hope after four difficult years under Joe Biden. This optimism was fueled by the belief that it might be possible to find common ground with Trump, who is fascinated by strong leaders, which could serve as a way to boost the stagnant […]

Syria, as a geographical-political entity that emerged within a political framework lasting four months in 1920, was the most prolific in generating political ideas from which political currents and parties in the region extending from Morocco to Iraq emerged. These ranged from Pan-Arab thought with its founders: Sati’ al-Husri, Michel Aflaq, and Kstantine Zureiq, to […]