Tharwa Foundation
Istanbul Policy Center, Sabanci University
Center for Peacemaking Practice, George Mason University
School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University
Rockefeller Brothers Foundation
Dutch Consulate in Istanbul
Istanbul Policy Center, Sabanci University
Center for Peacemaking Practice, George Mason University
School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University
Rockefeller Brothers Foundation
Dutch Consulate in Istanbul
July 1 – 3, 2013
Workshop Report
Workshop Report
Introduction
Under the direction of The Tharwa
Foundation and with the generous support of the Dutch Consulate in Istanbul,
fifteen Syrian activists representing most Syrian constituent groups and a wide
range of professions met to identify challenges that will be encountered in the
short, midrange, and long term as Syria transitions through peacemaking and
toward democracy. As part of their discussions, outlined further below, the
group developed a series of next steps that the participants can implement in
the short term and also explored ways to continue communication and
relationship building begun during the workshop.
The workshop process emphasized
the participants as the experts with the facilitation team from partner
organizations (Tharwa Foundation, Center for Peacemaking Practice and the
School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University)
moderating and guiding the dialogue. In truth, the team probably learned more
from the participants than the participants did from the team – which was the
workshop concept from the planning stages. This aspect, a shift in the
placement of knowledge as power and influence from outsider to insider, gave
the workshop a unique character, one that the participants acknowledged and
appreciated. In the final debrief, the workshop attendees expressed
overwhelming support for a series of meetings to build upon the groundwork laid
during the July workshop. The report continues by exploring three aspects of
the workshop focus: (1) current situational assessment; (2) key challenges to
moving forward; and (3) strategies, goals, and visions for the future.
Assessment
Prior to the beginning of the
workshop participants, the facilitation team, expert panel members, and Sabanci
University representatives met for dinner to ‘eat sweet, talk sweet’ and begin
the journey of understanding and relationship building. The following morning,
the first session of the workshop explored the current state of affairs in
Syria, namely is the current situation a revolution or civil war? The lively
discussion that followed examined past grievances, political inequalities, and
the emotional, physical, and social costs of tyranny and oppression. The
trajectory of the Syrian conflict from revolutionary beginnings to the current
movement toward civil war with the expansion of parties both inside and outside
of Syria wove throughout the individual narratives. Participants also noted the
important role of the media, how people have changed after two years of war,
and the gap between the opposition political movement and the movement on the
ground. There were also questions about the justification for the use of
weapons and the identification of decision-makers. Other comments noted that
the revolution served as a changing point, destroying the point of fear [of the
regime] and allowing a space for overcoming regional and class differences. The
comments during this workshop session indicated a general consensus that the
situation is complex, dangerous, and changeable.
The second session, expanding
upon the earlier discussion, explored specific internal and external factors
that influenced the movement from revolution to civil war. Overall, the
discussion focused to a large extent on internal rather than external factors.
The effects of a one-party, authoritarian, securitized state were related to
the difficulties inherent in the present struggle to articulate and maintain a
coherent political challenge. All aspects of life in Syria – political,
economic, cultural, educational, social, media – have been shaped by regime
policies and participants highlighted the difficulties to organize, connect to
legitimate media, find leadership with a strategic view, and to overcome a
crisis of trust between constituent groups. The discussions throughout the
first day of the workshop served to prepare participants as they begin to think
about how they might work together to address some of these challenges
conceptually and practically.
Challenges
Day two began with a special
panel presentation sponsored by the Rockefeller Brothers Foundation that
allowed participants to hear how other countries dealt with war to peace
transition. Scholars from Cyprus, Bosnia Herzegovina, and Kosovo discussed
their experiences of war and conflict in their home countries, detailed their
transition processes, and explored how these processes might relate to the
Syria conflict. The session that followed the panel allowed the participants to
work in small groups and, based on the discussions from the previous day as
well as from the panel presentation, develop transition strategies for social,
economic, and political challenges in the short term (from 6 months to a year
with the survival of Assad), midterm (after the fall of Assad), and long term
(reconstruction). The groups, made up of members from different constituent
groups, worked together to outline transition visions along lines of topic
areas over time. The chart below gives a sample of group responses.
Goals & Visions
The participant vision, as
indicated above, focused on inclusion of all constituent groups, democratic
process, and greater social, political, and economic equity. Earlier in the
workshop, someone asked the question, “Are we intelligent enough to manage
compromise?” underlining the necessity of compromise as an integral part of any
goal or vision for a peaceful Syria. In the workshop’s final visioning and wrap
up session, attendees proposed projects and ideas that could prove focal points
for group action beginning in the short term. One idea proposed, developing an
Office of Civil Peace, would gather information that can be given to the media
– information from all sides – to assist civil society in establishing itself
and acknowledging that civil society needs to include and represent all
segments of the population. Another idea posited the organization of research
centers to study the Syria situation, provide details, highlight social
aspects, suggest solutions, spread education, and stop rumors, in essence
building a collaborative network between citizen groups, media, and specialists
to begin to solve the leadership dilemma, mentioned in the assessment section.
As individuals and groups engage together, whether in the Office of Civil
Peace, a research center, or a lawyer project to begin work on justice and
reconciliation – or a two day workshop – distrust can lessen, understanding can
increase, and trust build.
Conclusion
The workshop, The Syrian
Transition: Towards a More Pragmatic Approach, proved successful from
a process standpoint but also from a personal standpoint. When asked in the
evaluation, “what was the most useful aspect of this workshop for you?”
comments referred to developed understanding of different points of view and
perspectives, the workshop format helping to bring all Syrians together again
and reinforcing abilities for teamwork. In terms of changes in perspective as a
result of the workshop, statements focused on increased trust of ‘my people’
and their ability to rebuild Syria for themselves and the value of small groups
of varied constituents as important for change in perspective and building hope
for the future. Participants expressed a very positive response to having more
facilitated thematically focused dialogue workshops among Syrians, highlighting
themes such as legal issues, transitional justice, post-war affects on
individuals, conflict resolution, and politics.
The attendees proved themselves
experts in all aspects of their workshop participation. They demonstrated keen
insight into dilemmas, constraints, and opportunities presently facing the
Syrian people, allowed themselves to experience changes in perspective and
increased understanding of other groups, and developed a series of strategies
and proposals upon which further collaboration and even compromise can be
built. The facilitation team, as well as the participants, look forward to the
opportunity to provide additional support that will assist the transition of
workshop-developed ideas to more pragmatic forms.