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April 2025
Declining Aid in a Time of Rising Needs: Syria’s Humanitarian Crisis
As needs in Syria grow, aid keeps shrinking–a toxic and cyclical double whammy. Adjusted for inflation, we show how actual aid contributions for 2024 are the lowest since the inception of the Brussels Conference. Further still, UN-channeled funds have experienced steeper declines. The outlook for 2025 is equally bleak.
April 2025
Inflation in the Post-Assad Era
Prices are finally falling, driven by customs reforms, the easing of domestic barriers to trade, and currency appreciation. However, when current constraints on liquidity are lifted, this might reverse.
April 2025
Taxes in Syria, Episode One: The Big Picture
This first article in a three-part series charts the evolution of Syria’s tax and fee systems during the conflict to inform ongoing reform efforts.
April 2025
What Do the Compositional Changes Between the Caretaker and Interim Governments Tell Us?
The composition of Syria’s new cabinet signals a shift in tone, with better credentials and broader representation. Yet power remains concentrated in familiar circles.
April 2025
External Contribution: The Alawite Massacres and the Future of Syria
Yassin Al-Haj Saleh, Syrian writer and former political prisoner, The Alawite massacres expose the deep entrenchment of sectarian rule in Syria. Unless the new authorities confront this “genocratic” structure, the cycle of identity-based violence will persist.
April 2025
Interview: Ethan Goldrich, Former US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Levant and Syria Engagement
Ethan Goldrich reflects on his term and proposes a policy approach toward dealing with Syria.
March 2025
What Does the Composition of Syria’s Caretaker Government Tell Us?
Our mapping of the Caretaker Government’s representation of Syrians by place of birth, age, gender, religion, and military affiliation highlights significant imbalances that impact legitimacy and governance.
March 2025
The State of Syria’s Domestic Debt
An assessment of the size of domestic debt and to whom it’s owed. The country’s approach to domestic debt will affect its creditworthiness and access to credit.
March 2025
Tracking Regime Cronies: How to Deal with Assad’s Economic Networks
How Syria should dismantle Assad-era crony networks while balancing accountability, stability, and justice.
March 2025
Syria’s Private Banking Sector: Collapse, Consequences, and a Path Forward
An in-depth analysis of the collapse of the private banking sector, its economic repercussions, and the challenges and steps required for reintegration into the global financial system.
March 2025
External Contribution: A Panoramic View of the Status Quo in Syria and the Emerging US Position
Charles Lister of the Middle East Institute offers an analysis of Syria’s ongoing fragile transition, the internal and external challenges it faces, and the evolving position of the US regarding the interim government’s legitimacy and the broader geopolitical context.
March 2025
Interview: How to Re-plug Syria’s Banking Sector into the Global System
Reintegrating Syria into the global financial system requires more than just sanctions relief. Major banks remain bound by US compliance rules, and past attempts like INSTEX show that market forces won’t move without strong incentives such as tax breaks or subsidies. European governments must treat Syria’s financial re-engagement as a security priority, leveraging sovereign-backed institutions and regulatory guarantees.
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