Ammar

The Shifting Global Order and its Implications for the Middle East The debate over the liberal world order has become a clash of moral absolutes—one that obscures the messy, contested history that produced the norms we now defend.

My latest

"The debate over the liberal world order has become a clash of moral absolutes—one that obscures the messy, contested history that produced the norms we now defend."

The Shifting Global Order and its Implications for the Middle East www.themiddleeastuncovered.com/p/the-shifti...

A Parliament by Design, Not by Vote The new People’s Assembly is not a revolution’s reward, but its redesign, and a window into al-Sharaa’s vision for a conservative, market-driven Syria.

My take on the Syrian elections:

"The new People’s Assembly is not a revolution’s reward, but its redesign, and a window into al-Sharaa’s vision for a conservative, market-driven Syria."

A Parliament by Design, Not by Vote
www.themiddleeastuncovered.com/p/a-parliame...

The Trio Vying to Rule a Broken Syria Syria’s future lies in the hands of three warlords: an ideologue, a patriarch, and a chameleon

My latest contribution to The Middle East Uncovered Substack focuses on the role of the three warlords currently ruling Syria: Mazloum Abdi, Hikmat Al-Hijri and Ahmad Al-Sharaa. Can the U.S. bring them together to agree on a power-sharing arrangement?
www.themiddleeastuncovered.com/p/the-trio-v...

Playing the Tribal Card Long dismissed as relics, Syria’s tribes are now shaping the country’s postwar order.

Playing the Tribal Card
www.themiddleeastuncovered.com/p/playing-th...

Sectarianism Is Eating Syria’s Transition Alive If Syria’s leaders can't learn from the past, they will doom the future they claim to be building

Sectarianism Is Eating Syria’s Transition Alive
www.themiddleeastuncovered.com/p/sectariani...

Should the U.S. Ban the Muslim Brotherhood? The push to ban the Muslim Brotherhood exposes the tension between national security and constitutional freedoms

Should the U.S. Ban the Muslim Brotherhood? My friend and colleague @faisalalmutar and I examine the serious implications of such a step, and we recommend against it for a number of philosophical and practical reasons.
www.themiddleeastuncovered.com/p/should-the...

YouTube video by Middle East Forum "Syria: What Happens Next?" – Moderated by Jonathan Spyer | Statecraft Reimagined 2025

This was a goode event. The situation in Syria remains n flux, but there are reasons to be optimistic for the first time in decades.

youtu.be/0W2RWfzp4Lk?...

الحوار السوري – الإسرائيلي... ضرورة اللحظة وبناء الثقة ينبغي أن يبدأ هذا التفاوض بأهداف محدودة وملموسة في الوقت نفسه لا تشمل أي منها التطبيع، أو الانضمام إلى "اتفاقات أبراهام"

سوريا الجديدة تحتاج إلى تفكير جديد: في مقالي لـ "المجلة،" أطرح ضرورة فتح حوار مباشر بين السوريين والإسرائيليين — حوار صريح، استراتيجي، ومنطلق من مصلحة الطرفين. لن يكون الحوار سهلاً، لكن القبول بالوضع الحالي أصعب.

الحوار السوري – الإسرائيلي... ضرورة اللحظة وبناء الثقة www.majalla.com/node/325825

It’s time for Syrian-Israeli dialogue Syria's future will be forged through difficult decisions. And right now, what's best is to talk with Israel.

A new Syria demands new thinking: In my latest for Al-Majalla, I argue that the time has come for a direct Syrian-Israeli dialogue—honest, strategic, and rooted in mutual interest. It won’t be easy, but neither is the status quo.

Read the full piece: en.majalla.com/node/325820/...

Syria post Assad: What Next? Ammar Abdulhamid is a Syrian-American author and pro-democracy activist. Exiled from Syria in 2005 for his criticism of the Assad regime, Ammar has since become a prominent voice for democratic reform...

Syria post Assad: What Next? – SPME - spme.org/activities/s...

YouTube video by PILPG Ammar Abdulhamid on Syria’s Transition: Democracy, Civil Society, and International Engagement

For my latest take on Syria's transition, you can listen in on this podcast with my dear friend Dr. Paul Williams founder of the Public Law and Policy Group.
youtu.be/z00jPr7E4yg?...

It also presents a critical test for the HTS-led interim government to collaborate with other political currents, paving the way for a more inclusive constitution and state structures. 2/2

EU is about to suspend sanctions on Syria. How many are in place? Under Assad, Syria became one of the most heavily sanctioned countries in the world. After Assad, the EU wants to inject fresh dynamism. #EuropeNews

The European Union’s decision to suspend sanctions on Syria for one year is a significant step toward potential permanent relief, promising positive impacts on Syrians’ daily lives and sustainable development. 1/2
www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...

It’s not unreasonable to demand clarity, especially given that the entire process is being led by an Islamist movement known for its stringent interpretation of Islam during its governance of Idlib Province. They need to do better. 3/3

While his overall performance is commendable, he remains frustratingly vague on critical issues such as the treatment of women and religious minorities. Understandably, constitutional reforms have yet to begin, but greater transparency on these matters is essential. 2/3

A Conversation with Asaad Hassan Al Shibani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Syria YouTube video by World Economic Forum

This marks a historic milestone: for the first time, Syria has a presence at the World Economic Forum, represented by the caretaker Foreign Minister, Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani. 1/

www.youtube.com/live/Pnwd91t...

YouTube video by بيت الحكمة 2.0 الإدارة الانتقالية في سوريا وإشكالية رفع العقوبات.. مع الناشط والمحلل السوري عمار عبد الحميد

لقائي مع ماهر غبرة في بودكاست "بالعربي" يتناول قضية رفع العقوبات على سوريا، ومعالم المرحلة الانتقالية فيها، علاوة على أوجه التشابه ما بين الحركة التصحيحية في 1973 والحركة التحريرية اليوم.
youtu.be/WpfikbFczfA?...

These parallels are both troubling and promising, depending on how secular movements apply the lessons of that era while capitalizing on the shifting geopolitical dynamics in the region and beyond. 2/2

Lessons from Syria’s volatile past for its uncertain future Syria has faced such transitions before. Unless secular, pro-democracy advocates learn from the past, we risk falling into the same traps.

My latest article in The Hill explores parallels between developments during Hafiz Al-Assad's Corrective Movement and Syria's current transitional phase. 1/2

Lessons from Syria’s volatile past for its uncertain future - thehill.com/opinion/inte...

Syria’s Communal Diversity and the Challenges of Transition As HTS leads efforts to rebuild Syria, it must contend with sectarian tensions, uncertain governance, and the need for inclusive peace.

Below is my article published earlier today by the Lawfare Institute. It deals with Syria’s Islamists, secularists and evolving communal dynamics in the aftermath of the fall of the Assad regime.

go.shr.lc/4h7ynjr

رسالة مفتوحة إلى أصحاب القرار في سوريا | عمار عبد الحميد إن حماية الحقوق والحريات الأساسية لجميع المواطنين دون تمييز على أساس الدين، أو العرق، أو الجنس، أو المعتقدات السياسية، هي حجر الزاوية لأي مجتمع عادل ومستقر. والعدل هو أساس قيام الدول، والمطلب الأول لل...

مقالتي التي نشرت في جريدة "القدس العربي" في الثاني من الشهر

go.shr.lc/3BMdfjZ

to another, justified by claims of majority entitlement. The composition of the upcoming transitional government will be a key indicator of where things are headed. 3/3

However, if this four-year period is used to fill key positions and institutions with Islamist loyalists to HTS and Al-Sharaa, we may be looking at a planned takeover of governance—a shift from one form of sectarian authoritarianism, justified in the name of protecting minorities... 2/3

I believe a four-year wait before holding elections is not unreasonable, as long as the transitional government is sufficiently diverse and the interim governance structure remains responsive to criticism while respecting basic human rights. 1/

Since the liberation, the prices of basic goods in Damascus have dropped by as much as 50%, due to the removal of the exorbitant taxes previously imposed by the regime. This immediate improvement in living conditions serves as a stark indicator of just how corrupt the defunct system was. #Syria

The Not-So-Frivolous Debate About Alcohol in Syria It is neither premature nor petty to raise the question of drink, which strikes at the core of discussions about the nature of the new Syrian state

I was sipping my cardamom tea while writing this article for @newlinesmag.bsky.social, exploring the subtle—and not so subtle—implications of the ongoing debate about the future of alcohol consumption in Syria. Spoiler alert: it's about far more than just a drink.
newlinesmag.com/spotlight/th...

The alcohol question is not a frivolous one - it strikes at the core of the debate about the nature of Syria's new state, argues @theactualammar.bsky.social in @newlinesmag.bsky.social newlinesmag.com/spotlight/th...

At such a critical juncture, this approach might offer a safer, more focused platform for dialogue and civic engagement. 3/3

These forums could provide an inclusive space for sharing ideas and airing concerns in a structured and constructive manner. State and independent media could cover these discussions to ensure broader reach and transparency. 2/3

Public protests and demonstrations are not the only avenue for expressing grievances. Perhaps it's time to repurpose the cultural centers originally established under Assad's Baath Party into public forums where citizens can gather to discuss current developments and future course of the country 1/2