Syria's Morning After: A Counterrevolution?

Announced by the University of Pittsburgh

The Alwaleed Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding (ACMCU) is hosting Dr. Fawaz Gerges, Professor of International Relations and Chair in Contemporary Middle Eastern Studies at the London School of Economics and Political Science, for a talk titled “Syria’s Morning After: A Counterrevolution?” on January 16th at Noon in the CCAS Boardroom.

Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has firmly established itself as the dominant de facto government in post-Assad Syria, with al-Sharaa emerging as a strong and central ruler. Regardless of the type of regime installed in Syria over the next year or two, al-Sharaa is poised to dominate decision-making processes and shape the country’s future trajectory. HTS’s growing hegemony raises critical questions about how al-Sharaa will rule Syria, a nation characterized by its ethnic, religious, and social diversity. Compounding this uncertainty is the risk of fragmentation among the multitude of opposition factions. These groups, with their divergent agendas, interests, and worldviews, could fracture further, plunging the war-torn country into deeper political and ethnic conflict. Such a scenario may further entrench Syria as a volatile proxy battlefield, exacerbating regional instability.