Caesar’s magic wand

Does lifting the Caesar Act open the door to Syria’s economic recovery, or expose the depth of its structural decay? As sanctions ease, entrenched corruption, weak institutions and an outdated banking system still present considerable hurdles. After a series of exemptions, licences, and the partial suspension of certain provisions of the Caesar Act since the fall of the Assad regime, US President Donald Trump signed the repeal of the law as part of a defence bill package, following its approval by both chambers of the US Congress, the House of Representatives and the Senate. Whatever is said about future oversight mechanisms meant to prevent a return to sanctions, a more immediate question demands attention: does lifting the Caesar Act mean that the wheels of economic, social,…