Publications

Flawed elections: The Syrian People’s Assembly of October 2025

by Assaad Al Achi

Syria witnessed a major historical defining moment on December 8, 2024. After 14 years of conflict and 54 years of rule, the Assad regime finally fell. What seemed impossible just a week before has finally happened and Syria is finally free.

Christians in Syria: Communities at a Crossroads

by Dr. Raid Gharib

Opinion Piece on Perceptions, Strategies, and Positions

From Burden to Backbone: Rethinking Syrian Refugee Integration in Lebanon’s Economy, A Policy Report

by Carlos Naffah and Nour Alwan

Over a decade after the Syrian conflict triggered one of the largest displacement crises in modern history, Lebanon retains the world’s highest per capita refugee population, even amid the fall of the Assad regime and the effort of the new Syrian government's consolidation of power and nascent reconciliation initiatives.

The Dynamics between Syrian Refugees and Lebanese Returnees in Beirut’s Southern Suburbs

by Carlos Naffah and Rasha Akel

In this report, Carlos Naffah and Rasha Akel explore the social and economic dynamics between Syrian refugees and Lebanese returnees in Beirut’s southern suburb of Ghobairy following the 2023 conflict. Based on interviews with refugees, returnees, local leaders, NGOs, and business owners, the report highlights key tensions over housing, jobs, and aid, while also noting instances of cooperation and shared hardship. The authors emphasize that both communities face overlapping vulnerabilities amid Lebanon’s economic crisis, calling for inclusive policies to support sustainable recovery and reduce tensions.

Implications and Policy Responses for Banking Sector Sanctions on Syria

by: Benjamin Fève, Vittorio Maresca di Serracapriola, and Karam Shaar

Refugee Returns & Migration Dynamics after Assad

Return to Syria is a multi-faceted and complex consideration for the millions of Syrian still displaced, even after the fall of the Assad regime. Safe, voluntary and dignified returns depend on addressing core security, rights and accountability challenges in the new Syria, along with the economic recovery.

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Local elections in Lebanon

Important milestone for the new government and indicator of the political balance in the country

Despite organisational hurdles, political resistance and a still precarious security situation in many places, municipal and mukhtar elections were held across Lebanon in May 2025, after a three-year delay. The elections are an important step towards strengthening the country's state institutions and are a success for the new government under Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and President Joseph Aoun, which has been in office since the beginning of the year. The elections also offer an initial indication of the country's political balance of power following the war between Israel and Hezbollah, and ahead of the 2026 parliamentary elections.

Stabilizing Health to Anchor Syria’s Reconstruction

From Crisis to Cornerstone: How Healthcare Reform Could Rebuild a Nation in Transition

This paper examines the pivotal role of healthcare reform in Syria’s post-conflict recovery. It explores how fourteen years of war, neglect, and sanctions dismantled the health sector, and argues that rebuilding it is not only a humanitarian necessity but a political and strategic imperative. As Syria transitions under a new government in 2025, the paper outlines a phased reform roadmap rooted in equity, decentralization, and diaspora engagement—highlighting health as a cornerstone of national stability, legitimacy, and refugee reintegration.

Understanding Municipal Elections in Lebanon

by Zeina Sami El-Helou

This paper provides an in-depth look at Lebanon’s municipal elections, their historical trajectory, governance structures, financial constraints, and the pressing need for reform. As the country prepares for May 2025 elections, this resource sheds light on how local governance reflects broader national dynamics and why change is overdue.