Syria’s civil society navigates post-Assad era: Partnership or control?

What the report says

Damascus, Syria, is seeing a major reset in the relationship between the state and civil society after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad on December 8, 2024, according to Al Jazeera. The report says groups that had operated from opposition areas and neighboring countries were asked to register in the capital, while the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour, which licenses associations, has reopened the question of how independent civic work should function in the new political order.

Al Jazeera reports that Bahjat Hajjar, now a deputy minister after years in the civil society sector, described registration as much easier than under the Assad-era system, which he said was tightly shaped by security services. Even so, he cautioned that more registrations do not automatically mean a stronger civic sphere. Other activists interviewed for the piece said the real issue is whether organizations will be partners in rebuilding or become more controlled by the state.

The article says Syria’s civil society expanded during the war by filling gaps in services such as bakeries, clinics, schools, water and shelter, but those roles are now being reclaimed by state institutions. Activists including Bashar Moubarak and Alia Shams argued that many groups still lack local legitimacy, clear legal protections and a shared agenda. They also pointed to continuing uncertainty over foreign funding rules and assembly permissions.

The broader significance, as described by Al Jazeera, is that Syria’s civic sector is being tested as the state returns after years of conflict. Its future may depend on whether it can keep enough independence to represent communities while adapting to a government that is rebuilding its own institutions.