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LUGARIT

@lugarit.com
29 followers 92 following 101 posts

A small think tank active in international development. www.lugarit.com

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LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 22/09/2026
#UrbanRecovery in #Syria depends on how #Land & #Capital are managed to generate #Economic #Productivity , #Livelihoods & #PublicBenefit. Watch our #Podcast to explore Syria’s choices on #LandManagement , #Investment & #PublicFinance for a more equitable #UrbanEconomy link.lugarit.com/aSq0ew
link.lugarit.com
Syria’s Urban Recovery: From Land and Capital to Livelihoods
Podcast
131
LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 25/08/2026
Who shapes Syria’s cities? Who benefits from their transformation? Episode 2 of Urban Liwan examines how power, land, & economic value are distributed through #LocalGovernance, #Reconstruction & #PoliticalEconomy of urban transition in #Syria link.lugarit.com/7tHvDxi
link.lugarit.com
Podcast
Governing Syria’s Cities: Power, Land and Political Economy
111
LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 11/08/2026
#Reconstruction of cities in #Syria requires more than #housing & #infrastructure. It calls for real #CommunityParticipation, #UrbanPlanning that builds on local resources, plus an understanding of #property as livelihood, memory, rights & belonging link.lugarit.com/7cE0Id1
link.lugarit.com
Humanising Reconstruction: Who Shapes the Future of Syria’s Cities?
Podcast
131
LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 04/08/2026
#TransitionalJustice in #Syria predates the political transition. The challenge now is to connect documentation, accountability and institutional efforts into a legitimate, victim-centred national process that delivers truth, reparation and reform. link.lugarit.com/1lEYOPf
link.lugarit.com
Transitional Justice in Syria: Between Progress and Delay
Article
111
LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 28/07/2026
Post-conflict recovery requires more than rebuilding infrastructure. Archaeology & local knowledge can strengthen land & water governance, inform institutional reform, & help renew state legitimacy by reconnecting historical landscapes with present-day development policies link.lugarit.com/58ulNcv
link.lugarit.com
From Heritage to Statecraft: Archaeology and Resource Governance
Policy Paper
232
LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 21/07/2026
As #Syria enters a post #sanctions phase, liquidity may return faster than productive capacity, risking #inflation without #jobs. #LUGARIT examines how #microfinance can stabilize small enterprises, protect #employment, and reconnect #finance with real #production. link.lugarit.com/sndw
link.lugarit.com
Microfinance as a Stabilizer: Managing Inflation and Employment in Post-Sanctions Syria
Paper
111
LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 14/07/2026
How should publicly generated land value be shared? A new #LUGARIT paper examines how #LandValueCapture can #finance #infrastructure and affordable #housing in #Syria & #MENA — when grounded in #transparency, #participation, and #rightsprotection link.lugarit.com/4xnjgHD
link.lugarit.com
Turning Land Value into Public Value
Paper
121
LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 24/02/2026
#Political Representation in Assad’s #Syria was not designed to reflect society, but to manage loyalty and power through #elections, quotas, and informal networks. Understanding this legacy is key to building fair and inclusive representation in the post-Assad moment. link.lugarit.com/sIia
link.lugarit.com
Political Engineering of Representation in Syria: Legacies and Future Challenges
Paper
121
LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 17/02/2026
Local administration in #Syria is changing fast—but growing harder to read. When mandates & rules are unclear, accountability & recovery suffer. #LUGARIT paper, prepared for SALAR International, argues that making governance legible is a public good & an essential reform link.lugarit.com/p4V1
link.lugarit.com
Making Syrian Local Administration Legible
Policy Paper
121
LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 09/02/2026
#Reconstruction in Assad’s #Syria was not recovery but a continuation of #violence. A #BookReview by #LUGARIT expert highlights how rebuilding reshaped space, legitimized dispossession, and consolidated #power—offering a cautionary lens for Syria’s post-Assad trajectory. link.lugarit.com/BOEN
link.lugarit.com
Book Review: Reconstruction as Violence in Assad's Syria
Commentary
131
LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 03/02/2026
1 year after National #Dialogue in #Syria, its #economic outputs remain unpublished—widening the gap between participatory debate vs #policy. #LUGARIT revisits the Dialogue’s diagnoses, recovery priorities, unresolved trade-offs, & transparency needed for #EconomicGrowth link.lugarit.com/nLXr
link.lugarit.com
After Sanctions: Revisiting the Economic Outputs of Syria’s National Dialogue
Paper
121
LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 29/01/2026
In #America – #China rivalry, #Syria serves as a revealing test case. #LUGARIT paper prepared for Issam Fares Institute (IFI) shows how #TradeCorridors, alliances, & #BeltandRoad dynamics - anchored by #SaudiArabia & #Turkey - shape great power strategy in the #MiddleEast link.lugarit.com/u15p
link.lugarit.com
Syria at the Margins of the Belt-and-Road Rivalry
Paper
131
LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 20/01/2026
#Civil service #reform in #Syria is not a technical fix. Without agreement on the role of the state & an inclusive #SocialContract, contractualization of public sector jobs risks undermining stability, legitimacy, & institutional continuity at a critical transitional moment link.lugarit.com/C2mR
link.lugarit.com
Civil Service Reform Without a Social Contract?
Paper
211
LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 13/01/2026
Every #investment in #Syria carries a trade-off. Without prioritization, scarce resources risk fueling elite capture and low-impact projects. Opportunity-cost thinking, discounting, and ethical valuation can help align capital with #PublicValue. link.lugarit.com/NezX
link.lugarit.com
Investing Wisely: Converting Capital into Public Value in Syria
Paper
111
LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 05/01/2026
Recovery in #Syria after #Sanctions is not built on relief alone. Drawing on Türkiye’s experience, this case study shows how #export capacity— built through #governance, smart incentives, SME support, & rule-based protectionism—drives competitiveness & resilience link.lugarit.com/IiQc
link.lugarit.com
Protecting National Products and Promoting Exports: Lessons from Türkiye
Case Study
121
LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 26/12/2025
Financing recovery in Syria is ultimately a question of governance. How authority, accountability, and center–local relations are managed will shape whether emerging local initiatives lead to decentralization or reproduce new forms of patronage. link.lugarit.com/uCAB
link.lugarit.com
Financing Recovery in Syria: Between the Center and Localities
Commentary
111
LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 01/10/2025
#Women in conflict are often visible yet powerless - token seats, checklist projects, and siloed aid fail to deliver real change. #LUGARIT calls for grassroots networks, cross-cutting strategies, and recognition of women’s informal leadership to make #WPS transformative link.lugarit.com/sEl7
link.lugarit.com
When Norms Fall Short: The WPS Agenda and the Realities of Conflict
Commentary
131
LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 23/09/2025
Recovery in #Syria demands more than capital inflows! It needs a shared definition of #PublicValue. #LUGARIT explores how national frameworks can ensure #investment build resilience, equity, and trust, not just infrastructure or profit. link.lugarit.com/GF0A
link.lugarit.com
From Inputs to Impact: Aligning Investment with Public Good in Syria
Commentary
121
LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 18/09/2025
The transition in #Syria offers a rare opportunity to build an independent, #inclusive #media sector. Through #reforms & #cooperation, media can become a driver of #SocialCohesion, #NationalReconciliation, & #TransitionalJustice —foundations for #peace & #democracy link.lugarit.com/FL01
link.lugarit.com
Rebuilding the Fourth Estate: Towards Media Freedom and Reform in Syria
Commentary
121
LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 16/09/2025
#Decentralization remains central to the debate on the future of #Syria. In an interview, Zedoun Al Zoubi – a Director at #LUGARIT - argues that genuine dialogue & inclusive #governance - not central dominance - are essential to preserving unity & enabling recovery link.lugarit.com/pxaJ
link.lugarit.com
Decentralization and Dialogue: Pathways for Syria’s Recovery
Commentary
121
LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 11/09/2025
Skyscrapers & mega-projects won’t fix the #HousingCrisis in #Syria. They serve elites, inflate prices, & take years—while millions need homes now. Real recovery means self-help housing, local finance, empowered municipalities, & secure property, land, & tenure rights link.lugarit.com/glXU
link.lugarit.com
Illusions of Reconstruction and Syria’s Housing Crisis
Commentary
210
LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 09/09/2025
#Reconstruction in #Syria cannot be reduced to luxury projects. Without safeguarding formal & informal property & tenure rights & addressing real housing needs, recovery risks deepening exclusion. Sustainable return starts with dignity & justice link.lugarit.com/UGVL
link.lugarit.com
Reconstruction Without Rights? Lessons from Wadi al-Joz
Commentary
111
LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 05/09/2025
#Reconstruction in #Syria cannot be measured in billions alone. In an interview with Al Jazeera English ( @aljazeera.com ), Omar Abdulaziz Hallaj – A Partner at #LUGARIT - reflects on why local solutions & #governance #reforms matter more than grand #investment pledges. link.lugarit.com/nAiF
link.lugarit.com
Rebuilding from Within: Local Solutions over Grand Pledges
Commentary
111
LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 04/09/2025
#Decentralization can strengthen unity in #Syria by improving services, empowering #LocalGovernance, & bridging divides between visions. Sequencing reforms & dialogue are key to building trust & stability. Watch the interview with Zedoun Al Zoubi on Al-Ḍād to learn more 📺 link.lugarit.com/e3yw
link.lugarit.com
Decentralization as a Bridge Between Divides in Syria
Commentary
111
LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 03/09/2025
#Reconstruction in #Syria is not just bricks and mortar—it is about #governance & #justice. In a new interview, Omar Abdulaziz Hallaj reflects on Syria’s #urban #history since the mid-20th century & unpacks the challenges & choices facing recovery today. link.lugarit.com/oZgz
link.lugarit.com
Syria’s Reconstruction Dilemma: Who Governs The Cities, Who Decides Their Fate?
Commentary
111
LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 29/08/2025
Rushing into #elections after #conflict can entrench division, not heal it. Drawing lessons from #Libya, this piece from #LUGARIT warns that #Syria’s fragmented institutions and exclusionary frameworks risk repeating the same mistakes, unless reforms come first link.lugarit.com/DXzG
link.lugarit.com
Ballots Before Peace? Libya’s Cautionary Tale and the Syrian Dilemma
Commentary
111
LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 08/07/2025
#Reconstruction without #environmental safeguards risks deepening injustice & instability. #Recovery in #Syria must treat environmental protection as a shared moral & economic responsibility - embedded in policy, investment, & public culture from the start. Read @ #LUGARIT 👇 link.lugarit.com/PBvW
link.lugarit.com
Rebuilding Syria on Brittle Ground: Why Environmental Justice Cannot Wait
Commentary
121
LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 25/06/2025
Blanket incentives won’t deliver just recovery. #LUGARIT calls for a targeted investment strategy, stronger local governance, and transparency to prevent elite capture. Lessons from #Iraq and #Lebanon show why #Syria must rethink how capital serves public good. link.lugarit.com/UaX5
link.lugarit.com
Investment Without Illusion: Toward a Fair Path for Syria’s Recovery
Commentary
111
LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 04/06/2025
As #Syria turns the page on authoritarian rule, the real challenge lies ahead: building legitimacy through plural narratives, civic dialogue, & forward-looking justice—not new monopolies on truth. #Reconciliation starts by listening to all voices. #LUGARIT link.lugarit.com/FknK
link.lugarit.com
The Stories Yet to Be Told: Justice and Reconciliation in the New Syria
Commentary
111
LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 27/05/2025
We share 5th article in a series on #conflict #analysis in #Iraq by Dr. Esther Meininghaus, part of #LUGARIT network. It examines how exclusion and political marginalization shape daily life in Batnāyya—and why residents see secular governance as essential to peace. link.lugarit.com/Hh71
link.lugarit.com
Walls Within: Segregation and Isolation in Batnāyya
Commentary
121
LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 26/05/2025
Can triangular #diplomacy and political alliances bring stability to a fractured region—or is it just a way for bigger powers to manage rivalries while smaller states stay stuck in #conflict? #LUGARIT take a sharp look at the #geopolitics shaping the #MiddleEast today. link.lugarit.com/oh7O
link.lugarit.com
Beyond the Primakov Triangles: Any Chance for Deconfliction in the Middle East?
Commentary
111
LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 20/05/2025
#Syria reunification depends on inclusive #LocalGovernance—not a return to centralization. A brief, by SALAR International & #LUGARIT, argues for pragmatic interpretation of Decree 107 as a pathway to bridge fragmented governance, & foster a resilient transition link.lugarit.com/HeiX
link.lugarit.com
Local Administration in Transition: Towards Inclusive and Accountable Local Governance in Syria
Commentary
121
LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 14/05/2025
The new Constitutional Declaration in #Syria leaves out more than it includes. #LUGARIT latest article explores 6 critical omissions that risk derailing the country’s political transition. What’s missing—and why it matters. Learn more 👇 link.lugarit.com/qtoe
link.lugarit.com
The Perils of Omission: What Syria’s Constitutional Declaration Fails to Say
Commentary
111
LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 01/05/2025
#CivilPeace in #Syria can't be built on slogans. #LUGARIT latest article outlines 6 principles to help Syrians move beyond #sectarianism and division—toward #justice, inclusion, and a shared future. A starting point for real #dialogue, not a final word. link.lugarit.com/Dhz8
link.lugarit.com
Beyond Slogans: Six Principles for Civil Peace in Syria
Commentary
121
LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 25/04/2025
The future in #Syria depends on more than a new center, it needs empowered local #governance & enabled local institutions. #LUGARIT latest paper - prepared for Omran Center for Strategic Studies - explores why recovery requires dismantling authoritarian centralism. link.lugarit.com/Klvn
link.lugarit.com
Beyond Centralized Power: Multilevel Governance for Syria
Publication
111
LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 24/04/2025
At a workshop in the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor in #Damascus, #LUGARIT joined gov’t & civic leaders to explore a rights-based #NGOs Law for #Syria. Discussions focused on #CivicSpace, #LegalReform, & transparency in #governance. link.lugarit.com/86lX
link.lugarit.com
LUGARIT Opens Dialogue on Rights-Based NGO Law in Syria
News
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LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 22/04/2025
We share the 4th article in a series on #conflict #analysis in #Iraq by Dr. Esther Meininghaus, part of #LUGARIT’s network. Discrimination starts in the classroom, religious segregation in Baʿshiqa fuels mistrust. What does peace from the ground up look like? link.lugarit.com/pqJ2
link.lugarit.com
Shared Humanity in a Divided Town: Reimagining Coexistence in Baʿshiqa
Commentary
111
LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 17/04/2025
#Sanctions meant to pressure Assad regime now risk blocking recovery in #Syria. This #PolicyBrief - developed by #LUGARIT for @swisspeace.bsky.social – examines structural impact of sanctions & calls for pragmatic recalibration to support stability, services, & reform. link.lugarit.com/DdEb
link.lugarit.com
From Pressure to Paralysis: Recalibrating Sanctions for Syria’s Recovery
Commentary
131
LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 16/04/2025
How does #constitution shape #NationalIdentity after regime change? A new commentary from #LUGARIT explores the recent dual constitutional declarations in #Syria and what they reveal about power, values, memory & belonging. Read more 👇 link.lugarit.com/kAQ4
link.lugarit.com
Syria’s Constitutional Declarations and the Remaking of National Identity
Commentary
111
LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 16/04/2025
At #CityDebates2025, organized by Beirut Urban Lab, Jadd Hallaj - #LUGARIT consultant - unpacked how maps shape power in #Syria - past and present. His talk called for participatory cartography to support inclusive, post-conflict governance. Read more 👇 link.lugarit.com/O5Zo
link.lugarit.com
LUGARIT at City Debates 2025: Reimagining Syria’s Territorial Orders
News
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LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 08/04/2025
Civic space in #Syria is shifting. #LUGARIT latest policy paper – developed with the support of @swisspeace.bsky.social - explores how #NGOs are navigating new regulations, old legacies, and uncertain reforms in the post-Assad era. Read more 👇 link.lugarit.com/h1rb
link.lugarit.com
Redefining Civic Boundaries: Exploring New Regulations and Challenges for NGO Registration in Post-Assad Syria
Redefining NGO Roles in Post-Assad Syria
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LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 03/04/2025
#Syria health sector is in crisis: fractured, underfunded, & unequal. #LUGARIT latest report in collab with SAMS reflects findings of consultations with hundreds of health professionals & offers a roadmap for rebuilding an inclusive & accountable health system. Read now 👇 link.lugarit.com/M7lI
link.lugarit.com
Syria’s Health Sector: Challenges And Intervention Priorities
Publication
121
Reposted by LUGARIT
Nihad Alamiri @nihad-alamiri.bsky.social · 25/03/2025
Rapid liberalization alone won’t fix #Syria #economy. Without #governance, transparency & social protections, reforms risk fueling instability. A balanced approach—market efficiency + resilience—is key to sustainable recovery.
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LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 25/03/2025
Can #Syria transition to #FreeMarkets #economy while safeguarding stability? Rapid liberalization alone won’t guarantee recovery — protecting vulnerable populations & strong governance are key. Explore the risks & solutions in #LUGARIT recent #policy paper 👇 link.lugarit.com/Blpg
link.lugarit.com
From Crisis to Markets: Syria’s Path to Economic Recovery
Commentary
121
Reposted by LUGARIT
Nihad Alamiri @nihad-alamiri.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
Dr. Esther Meininghaus’ research sheds light on an often-overlooked reality: stability does not mean equality. The persistence of patron-client networks and the exclusion of marginalized groups show how power structures shape governance. True peace requires fair access to services & opportunities.
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LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 20/03/2025
We share the 3nd article in a series on #conflict #analysis in #Iraq by Dr. Esther Meininghaus, part of #LUGARIT’s network. Although Tal Afar appears stable, power dynamics shape #HumanitarianAid & #governance, reinforcing exclusion. Can structural change break patronage? link.lugarit.com/sa9o
link.lugarit.com
Beyond the Surface: How Patronage Shapes Aid and Conflict in Tal Afar
Commentary
111
Reposted by LUGARIT
Nihad Alamiri @nihad-alamiri.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
Addressing Syria’s governance challenges requires rethinking territorial orders to balance authority, efficiency, and inclusivity. This historical analysis highlights how systemic imbalances have long shaped representation and resource distribution in the country. A must-read!
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LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 05/03/2025
Redefining territorial orders in #Syria is key to national cohesion. With complex legacies & fragmented #governance, #LUGARIT & Omran Center for Strategic Studies explore #spatial dynamics of local administration & implications for representation & resource distribution. link.lugarit.com/e1To
link.lugarit.com
Aggregating Power: The Territorial Orders of Syria
Publication
122
Reposted by LUGARIT
Nihad Alamiri @nihad-alamiri.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
Kudos to Zedoun Al Zoubi for stepping up to the challenge of leading the Facilitation Team with less than two days to prepare—an incredible feat in such a high-stakes dialogue! 👏 Inclusive national dialogues are vital for stability & trust in post-conflict transitions.
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LUGARIT @lugarit.com · 26/02/2025
#LUGARIT joined the #SyrianNationalDialogue Conference that convened 900 in-person participants & engaged 10,000+ Syrians via an online questionnaire. Zedoun Al Zoubi led facilitation, while Omar Abdulaziz Hallaj contributed to talks on economy link.lugarit.com/6efd #مؤتمر_الحوار_الوطني_السوري
link.lugarit.com
Bridging Perspectives: LUGARIT at Syria’s National Dialogue Conference
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