What this blog is about
The democratic change that is sweeping across the Middle East and North Africa has hit Syrian shores. The so-called “Syrian exception” has proved to be a fallacy. Change has become a reality.
Those leading the struggle for change are young people who have refused to cower to regimes that have failed them. Unlike their parents, they command the technology for mass mobilization and they have used it to topple dictators. To know what the future holds for the Middle East and how this impacts the rest of the world, it is important to hear their voices.
Despite not living in Syria, I have been fortunate enough to be a participant in the revolution that aims to topple Bashar Assad from power. I have been a lifelong opponent of the regime, and have spent the last six years of my life in active service to the cause of democratic change in my country.
I believe that only a democratic system allows the greatest number of individuals to fulfill their potentials and lead happy lives. I also believe that a genuine and healthy democracy can only take root in a society that accepts certain intellectual underpinnings that come part and parcel of the process of modernization.
For political change to be positive, cultural values must also change. It is imperative to promote transparency, accountability and civic responsibility, and to put a value on rational and realist approaches to politics and public life.
As a journalist, I have a healthy respect for the integrity of knowledge. Establishing the facts and offering an explanation for them is vital in the functioning of any modern society, because only by being properly informed can individuals make the right choices for themselves and their families.
That is why this blog aims to offer as true a picture as possible of what is happening in Syria and why. To this end, Syria in Transition will make useful reading for media professionals, researchers and interested laypersons alike.
Malik Al-Abdeh
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Syria in Transition
- For the Majalla: Syria, Two Years On April 1, 2013
- Blogging for the Huffington Post: Why Britain Should Arm Syrian Rebels March 16, 2013
- Out of the Ashes: My review of the first authoritative history of the Muslim Brotherhood in Syria March 16, 2013
- “Dead at 21: Britain’s Veteran Jihadist”: My first report for the Sunday Times March 3, 2013
- My op-ed for Syria Deeply: Talking About My Generation February 27, 2013
Interesting blog. But how can you claim to be in touch with ‘what’s really happening’ when you are not actually in Syria?
Thanks Philip for visiting my blog.
In reply to your question, It is my job to know what is happening given that I am the chief editor of Barada TV, an independent Syrian TV channel. I am in daily contact with reporters who work for Barada TV in Syria and they provide me with real time information on the latest developments and the “mood on the street.”
The point of this blog is to convey some of what I hear and learn to an English-speaking audience, particularly to other journalists but also academics, decision-makers and people who are generally interested in Syria.
There are several quite popular blogs out there run by “Syria experts.” These tend to concentrate on “high politics” (US-Syrian relations in particular) and this I felt did not necessarily convey an accurate picture of what Syrians regard as their priority.
The democratic revolutions sweeping the Arab world have underlined the importance of “low politics” and issues of human rights and democratic freedoms to the ordinary man on the street.
Conventional wisdom used to say that Arabs did not care for these “luxuries” but conventional wisdom is being turned on its head. As we speak young men and women are dying for freedom and democracy on the streets of Tripoli.
There is a new generation of Arabs who are going to shape not only their own societies, but also change the future of how the Arab world engages with the West. I’d like to think that I am part of that generation and doing my bit through Barada TV and through this blog.
I am totally in support of your idea of “low politics” – democracy can only truly be achieved from “the base up”, the people have to demand it. It cannot be dropped from 40.000 ft up in the sky as recently expressed by David Cameron. Therefore it has been so wonderful to see all these young people in the Arab world finally standing up and demanding their rights – not just chanting how they want to give their life and blood to Assad…So the best of luck to you and your like-minded in your efforts. But given the tiny scale of these demonstrations in a state so packed with security operators as Syria, is there truly any hope? I truly admire those who dare to protest, knowing full well what awaits them when arrested.
Congratulations Malik on creating your blog, finally! I hope it will be as successful and informative as your other work.
Thanks Ausama for your kind words.
regds frm the indian subcontinent……what our forefathers fought for 3 gnerations ago,that is DEMOCRACY, we can see before our eyes happening in u r part of the world……..the youth have taken this step with inner confidence and self determination…….they have hope in their hearts and grand visions for the future………..the unity of the youths can acheive the ubbeliveable, so there is no turning back now, we were inspired by our leader GANDHI ,father of the nation….hope u do too, please go thru our history to gain some insights……and also the song “give me freedom”by k’naan has resonated and energized the mena regions…………….march ahead with unity, victory will be u r s………god bless!!!
Malik I hope dearly that you and your supporters of a so-called “Democratic Syria” are aware of what you are really getting when you allow the western brand of democracy to be the model you seek to emulate. Perhaps you will be inclined to take a que from HISTORY and the long standing record western democracy has of bringing total social and moral degradation and economic exploitation of the entire population. they use to invade nations and force “democracy with a sprinkle of free market Rich Exploit the the POOR Capitalism, NOW by God they have Nations taking the poison themselves and tricking the masses into believing that a system with absolutely no track record of success and the blood of millions (perhaps) billions of ancestors from all parts of the world on its HAND, is a SOLUTION to a problem. Syria will do well to be smart, and reject western influence in all FORMS, and find a truly equal and fair system to live by. but then again, who am i kidding. we all know GLOBALISM is the Order and Israeli Super Power Status is the Agenda.
Democracy can coexist with imperialism. This is often the case. Democracy can be the basis of the administration of internal national affairs. At the same time imperialism can be the rule of foreign policy. Thus American foreign policy is overtly based on “national interest,” a euphemism for justifying American imperialism. The direct subordination of third-world nations by military occupation is now replaced by indirect forms, where military superiority is seconded with financial might.
Those who reject democracy because it is associated in the West with imperialism are making a big mistake. Democracy is not necessarily linked to imperialism and exploitation of the weak. A country like Syria is entitled to the benefits of democracy. In this case, democracy can be the best deterrent of imperialism, as we have seen it when Syria occupied Lebanon and exploited it financially.
Are you able to interpret these results here:
http://www.sana.sy/ara/2/2012/05/15/419128.htm
Is there any way of analysing which parties each person stood for?
Thanks for any help you could give,
Dear Blog Owner, You can also Publish my article on the Same topic and is based on Sectarian divide and the false war on Syria.
Sectarian divide, the modern warfare:
http://www.thefaultlines.com/opinion/924-view-sectarian-divide-the-modern-warfare.html