سوريا: ابتكار منهجية الإصلاح السياسي

المقاربة السياسية بين سوريا و كل من مصرو تونس مجدية في إطارذكر أن المواطن في هذه الدول يطالب بالعيش الكريم, حق التوظيف, حرية الصحافة, رفع حالة الطوارئ ,حرية التعبير, وحرية الإنتماء السياسي. ما يجانب الصواب في مثل هذه المقاربات ,في بعض الاحيان, هو شمولية توصيف رد فعل الحكومات بأنها غير مجدية, و أنها غير قادرة على الوفاء بوعودها الإصلاحية

الإصلاح السياسي في سوريا ممكن, بسسبب إدراك النظام بأهمية بدء الإصلاحات وبسسبب خصوصية المجتمع السوري. التنوع العرقي و الديني في سوريا خلق حالة من الوحدة و التلاحم الحتمي,نتيجة الوعي بالتجارب الطائفية لكل من لبنان و العراق, بالإضافة إلى معاينة استحقاقات نجاح ثورة تونس و مصر و الدور المحوري للوحدة الوطنية في ذلك

خصوصية التجربة السياسية و الإجتماعية السورية ليس مدخلا لتبرئة الوضع الداخلي السوري من اي خلل , لكن ربما تكون هذه الخصوصية هي التي ستمهد لنجاح تجربة الإصلاح السياسي التدريجي المطالب حاليا بإثبات حسن النية و المسارعة ببدء الإعلان عن القرارات و الإطار الزمني لتنفيذها

مخاطر الأزمة في سوريا لن تكون في إطار العنف الطائفي, فكما أشرت, الوعي الإجتماعي في سوريا لهذا الإحتمال كبير.. وكما تردد في كثير من التجمعات الصغيرة و الكبيرة في سوريا في الايام الاخيرة: "واحد, واحد, واحد, الشعب السوري واحد". تكمن إمكانية نجاح الإصلاح السياسي في توظيف ضغط الشارع السوري لإقناع بعض المؤسسات الرقابية و الأمنية بأن تبادربتنسيق الجهود مع اللجان المعنية بمراحعة الملفات, و بخطوات حثيثة

سوريا رائدة بمشروعها العروبي النهضوي في المنطقة . سوريا قادرة أن تكون رائدة في إستيعاب المطلب الشعبي بالإصلاح السياسي و أن تؤسس لمنهج إصلاحي سياسي هو بمثابة نموذج ثالث للتغيير في المنطقة العربية, إلى جانب النموذج المصري و الليبي. نموذج وطني سوري بامتياز

Syria: The Art of Branding Political Reform

A link http://new-middle-east.blogspot.com/2011/03/syria-art-of-branding-political-reform.html

Syria: Initiating Reform is Time Sensitive

So the unrest in Dar'a south of Damascus is either according to SANA perpetrated by an armed mob that resorted to violence and burning buildings, or accroding to other media oulets, a spontaneous start of an uprising that is being supressed. In either case however, there remains a fact that both the Syrian people as well as Syrian officials know very well, and that is the need for political reform and the need to curb corruption...etc.

Syrian officials have recently expressed admiration for the Turkish model of democracy. The Turkish model has tremendous support in the Arab world including in Syria. Arriving at the institutional structure supporting such democratic model however is a long and winding road, which will includ bureaucratic overhauls, inacting the tenants of the rule of law,.. all of which need political will, political mobility and a unified political elite. The need to jumpstart the process seems to be stronger than ever.

Syria is particularly situated to inititate a gradual and peaceful road to reform. Its foreign policy seems to be popular, but can not substitute for a critical self examination, where progress made in areas such as education should be acknowledged and other needed reforms should be discussed openly. All this within an understanding of the importance of national unity.

Horan Arabs, Druze, Kurds, Muslims, Christians,.. are all parts of Syria's unique social fabric, if one social element is in pain, that must not sit well socially and politically until it is equitably addressed by the government.

The potential of Syria is limitless.. the upward mobility in all areas, education, economics, health, tourism, green industry, ... is noteworthy. The Syrian government has a well intentioned and well educated cadre that is capable of formating a plan.. A plan forward.

Syria: Vision of a Future that is Rooted in History

Notwithstanding the ongoing populas litmus test of regime ligitimacy in the Arab world, there are some early winners and loosers. Syria, among others, has successfully managed and weathered the storm. Why and how are questions to be marveled at by political scientists and Middle East experts for many years to come.

Syria, with its institutional and demographic complexities, does differ although not fundamentally from other Arab countries. Syria, however, was successful in taking gradual steps towards economic, education and health reforms. Gradual political reform is anticipated. A framework of such reform has not been declared yet. Access to social media has been granted and the media and press are exercising social-cohesion conscientious form of free speech.

One element stands out that differentiates Syria; an elemant that echoed in the streets of Cairo and in Tunisa; which is the core populas demand for the state to uphold Arab dignity.

Syria with its principled pragmatism in foreign policy conduct gave a voice to that need, gaining in this sense a popular edge over so called American allies in the region. Syria successeded in being preceived domestically and regionaly as the carrier of Arab aspirations to a just solution to the Arab Israeli conflict, regional proseperity and regional sovereignty. Collaboration with regional powers such as Turkey and Iran are key in Syria's outlook.

Syria has a clear and dignified vision. A firm understanding that does not disconnect notions of progress and peace from the historical context and the realities of displaced people. Even if that meant standing up to hegemonic agendas. This position had cost Syria dearly in the past, from political to economic isolation, yet the worst days of international pressure in 2005 have only streangthened Syria's resolve.

Maybe a reconfiguration of American foreing policy and a redefinition of who America's friends are, is due.

Long Live the Egyptian People

Long live the Egyptian people.

The ownership of this revolution belongs to each and every one of them. A true leaderless peaceful people's revolution that will take it's place in history.

The whole regime tumbled because Egyptians refused to part with their proud past that used to invigorate the region with pride and hope. They refused to engage in a passive role while the economy of Egypt is taken hostage by a few.

Egypt is free and the Egyptian people gave meaning to the concept of peaceful revolution and to democracy in the Arab world. This is a glaring defeat to al Qaeda, who advocated violence and theocratic rule. Democracy demanded by Egyptians is against al Qaeda's vision for Egypt, and it is also different from the hollow, procedural, and meaningless "democracy" practiced elsewhere in the region.

A dignified indigenous strife for freedom has been victorious in Egypt.

I am sure that everyone is hoping that the army will keep its word and facilitate a peaceful transition once elections are held.

I'm watching with tears and a heart filled with hope as I am sure many people around the world are.

Egypt and Tunis proved George W. Bush to be Wrong

Elliot Abrams wrote an article yesterday in the Washington Post arguing that the recent uprising in Egypt and Tunis have proved George W. Bush to be right. His main points express that Arabs, surprise, do value freedom, that Bush's overthrow of Sadam was the right thing to do in 2003, and that both regimes in Tunis and Egypt were dictatorships. Well this is a misrepresentation of what the western position was from those two regimes:

First Husni Mubarak and Zain al Abidin bin Ali were two important western allies in the Middle Eastern region. Their prized credentials are massive suppression of opposition, tight control of media, liberal economic policies, and good relations with Israel. Those two countries would have never ever been on George Bush's radar for "regime change".

Second Husni Mubarak and bin Ali, both presidents for over 20 years, have promised change and never delivered. In fact 9/11 gave their regimes a boost to crack down on opposition in the name of "the war on terror". They garnered even more support from the west for their rule when they championed the motto of : Either us and stability or the Islamists and chaos, as "Stability at all costs" was the name of the game.

Third, Tunis and Egypt have been part of what is called the "Moderate Arab Camp", these two coutries were the economic modernization and deplomatic example for the rest of the Middle East. George Bush's "New Middle East" agenda was supported by Mubarak and bin Ali, among others.

The barrier of fear has been broken in some Middle Eastern countries. Some observers are just now jumping on the truth wagon, and trying to distort the implications of what happened in Tunis and Egypt. Demands for political pluralism, freedom of expression, comprehensive policies for employemnt have always been brewing in the Middle East, where unemployment can reach 35% in some countries and political imprisonment are a normal occurence.


The hope is that U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East (agreeing in this part with Abrams) advances from having it both ways: support for regimes and expressing dismay at human rights violations. And instead adopt a clear stance supporting the public's aspiration for indigenous solutions for regional problems, economic reform and political pluralism; a stance that is congruent with American ideals.

The Syrian Vision: Harnessing Regional Potential

In al Hayat newspaper interview on Oct. 27th, Syria's Bashar al Asad indentified the region as a strategic hub, connecting the five seas (Red, Mediterranian, Black, Caspian, Persian Gulf) through Oil, Gas and communication lines. This vision has passed the rhetoric stage and phased implemetation has been underway.

What is striking, yet not surprising, is that Syria is reinforcing its regional role over and beyond what might be described by "Syria as a key player" in any Arab-Israeli Peace deal.

The expansion of the geopolitical focus of Syrian foreign policy, is transcending its mediation role in the Hamas-Fatah reconciliation, and mediation roles in Iraq, Sudan and Yemen, political management of Lebanon, to include a creative look at how power centers are allocated in the Middle East.

First, from the Syrian perspective there has been a strategic breakthrough in the region. Arab states are not encircled by the Shah of Iran, a hostile Turkey and Ethiopia in the south anymore. Thereby, the contemporary promoting of Turkey and Iran as power centers to the benefit of Arab revival and prosperity of the region is vital for Syria.

Second, from the Syrian perspective, Arab identity (as a cultural reference) needs to be reinforced in the face of ethnic and religous factionalism, like the prevailing political systems in Lebanon and Iraq.

Third, the traditional delineation of the Middle East: Arab states in addition to Israel, Turkey and Iran is too limiting and does not live up to the potential of the region. Recent Syrian talks in Bulgaria, Romania and Azerbaijan are necessary precursors to the natural definitional expansion of what a viabale Middle East could be.

Hariri's visits to Syria and current visit to Iran, is not news anymore. Fatah and Hamas holding talks in Damascus is not news anymore. Ordogan's warm welcome in any Arab state he visits, is not news anymore. Arab states not buying the argument of Iran being the altmimate threat to the region, is not news anymore.

The ME is ripe for a regionally produced plan, and Syria is making use of the podium.

** Warm wishes to King Abdullah of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for a quick recovery.