Syria unbound

“How did you go bankrupt?"  “Two ways. Gradually, then suddenly.”  Novelist Earnest Hemingway put these words in the mouth of one of his characters in his 1926 breakthrough novel, The Sun Also Rises, and it seems they are as true to dictators as they are to a fictional gambler and drunk. Last weekend, President Bashar al Assad of Syria, the cruel and brutal head of a corrupt dynasty that had ruled Syria for over half a century, fled with his family to Moscow — just two weeks after a rebel group started upon an offensive from north to south. In retrospect, it became clear that the regime had been creaking gradually for some time, before it collapsed suddenly, leaving Iran and Russia, his two external supporters, bereft and the people of Syria free - or at least free from the regime. The freedom to decide their future is yet to be tested or understood.Hind Kabawat, a former member of the High Negotiations Committee at the Syrian peace talks in Geneva and a prominent leader of Syrian civil society, is one of the best-placed people to reflect on the past and especially the future of Syria. A native of Damascus who attended school with Bashar al Assad but has been standing in staunch opposition to him ever since she passionately believes in multi-faith collaboration as well as the importance of women. While applauding the fall of Assad, Professor Kabawat knows the future is yet to be decided - but that equality of different peoples of all faiths, genders, and political tribes must be at its centre.This episode was recorded on 12 December 2024Mentions and further resourcesIIIM – International, Impartial and Independent MechanismHayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS)Timeline of Arab Spring in SyriaFollow our guestHind Kabawat X/Twitter, LinkedIn and webpage (George Mason University)Tastakel, the non-profit Syrian women-led organisation working on building a democratic society on the basis of respect, justice & the rule of law.Follow usInstagram @women_leaders_podcastEuropean Leadership Network Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and websiteIlana Bet-ElCreditsProduction: Florence FerrandoMusic: Let Good Times Roll, RA from #UppbeatContribute to the conversation with a comment & a 5-⭐️Reach us on our Instagram and follow for updates @women_leaders_podcastWatch now our episode on Youtube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.