And as astute Syrian colleagues have recently written, there is cause for both optimism and concern (links in comments).
As Loubna Mrie chronicles in the New York Times, the rampant culture of hero worship during the Assad era has not dissipated, but has simply been transfixed onto Syria’s new leadership.
For Syrians to truly free themselves from the shackles of Assadism, they need to confront the strongman mentality that continues to have currency throughout the country.
And Salma Al-Shami has put raw data to work in piecing together the country’s next steps, in an excellent essay in Foreign Affairs.
Right now Syrians are overwhelmingly supportive of their new government. But eventually that new government will need to deliver on its promises, at which point the immediate post-Assad euphoria will no longer be sufficient.
Already I’m seeing a whole cottage industry of newly minted Syria experts emerge. On December 8, how auspicious!
On this day, take your queues primary from Syrians. It’s their country, their struggle.
May God bless a free and prosperous Syria 🇸🇾.
