Syrian Expectations for the Future:

One year after the fall of the Assad regime, Syria’s transitional leaders and their international partners face the urgent task of reimagining how power, justice, and reconstruction should be approached. Measuring Syrian views is notoriously difficult after years of conflict and displacement. Complementary sources—a forthcoming Arab Barometer survey, dialogues with community leaders, and current humanitarian and economic reporting—offer a grounded look at what citizens expect from a new order.

Drawing on these insights, the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, in partnership with Arab Barometer, organized a public panel discussion at the Doha Forum 2025. The panel explored how aligning policies with Syrians’ preferences can strengthen the legitimacy of interim institutions, shape credible paths for accountability and reconciliation, and guide international support toward the jobs, services, and local governance models people prioritize. This session gave regional and global actors an evidence-based roadmap for a stable, inclusive post-conflict Syria.