A National Dialogue in Syria: 12 factors to consider now by Thania Paffenholz

Despite all the turmoil in the Middle East these days, there is good news coming from Syria following the fall of the Assad regime. A few days ago, the new President of Syria announced plans to initiate a National Dialogue—and with it, the establishment of a preparatory committee. This process could prove to be one of the most important steps toward building an inclusive, just, peaceful, and prosperous Syria.

While every country and situation is unique, experiences from national dialogues worldwide offer many valuable lessons. Over the years, in addition to studying National Dialogue processes in almost 20 countries, I’ve supported such processes in more than a dozen countries. I’d like to share key lessons that can help Syria forge an effective and legitimate National Dialogue toward a prosperous, peaceful, and inclusive future.

LEGITIMACY IS THE CORNERSTONE OF ANY NATIONAL DIALOGUE

If a dialogue is perceived as co-opted, externally driven, or designed to serve only a select few interests, it risks failure from the start. Legitimacy must be built first and foremost among the Syrian people—and, to some extent, among external partners committed to Syria’s future. The following 12 factors, drawn from global experiences, provide ideas for establishing legitimacy from the outset:

1. Legitimate Preparatory Committee: Who sits on the committee, what are the selection criteria, and who makes the decisions? It is crucial that the majority of Syrians trust the committee so they can trust its recommendations. Transparency is a cornerstone for building that trust.
2. Early and Inclusive Public Participation: Early involvement of the public is key—not just as an audience but as active contributors in defining the dialogue’s agenda and key criteria. People need to feel that their needs are heard after decades of oppression. Hence, pro-active communication and active public engagement are core strategies.
3. Securing Buy-In from All Relevant Groups: Are major groups and minorities on board before, during, and after the process? It is vital to develop engagement strategies and win the trust of all key stakeholders in the country. Experience shows that maintaining this buy-in over time is essential.
4. A Results-Oriented and Realistic Mandate: The mandate for the Dialogue needs to be clear, achievable, and both process- and outcome-driven. While many National Dialogues have led to the drafting of new constitutions, they often addressed too many agenda points, making it impossible to implement all of them which led to frustration or even collapse in some cases. Realism is key—acknowledging that not every challenge can be addressed in one process, and some topics may require parallel or follow-up initiatives.
5. A Representative Steering and Chairing Committee: Once the National Dialogue is further developed, it needs a steering committee that reflects Syria’s diverse society, ensuring that the dialogue is managed by voices that are both trusted and representative.
6. Selection Criteria: Towards a Syria Inclusion formula: Who will participate and how participants will be chosen is one of the central ?cornerstone for legitimacy. Transparent and inclusive selection criteria are needed to ensure all relevant groups are represented. That concerns both, how many groups will get ‘their’ delegation and how each delegation is comprised to reflect the country’s diversity—women and men; young and old; all regions; religions; and political and societal groups. A strategy to secure both public and elite buy-in, while also working on inclusion beyond the Dialogue, is to develop a “Syria inclusion formula.” Such a formula involves developing and agreeing on criteria that represent Syria, as outlined earlier in this paragraph. This process is, in itself, a dialogue process. The formula can also be used later for defining affirmative action through government, educational and social institutions in the country.
7. Legitimate Decision-Making Processes: Setting up decision-making procedures that are inclusive and transparent is another cornerstone for legitimacy.
8. Appropriate Duration: The process should be long enough to allow for meaningful discussion and consensus-building, yet mindful of the need to avoid protracted negotiations that may stall progress.
9. Parallel Negotiation Spaces: In some contexts, establishing parallel negotiation spaces—both national and local—can help address specific issues more effectively while contributing to a broader dialogue.
10. Built-In Conflict Resolution Mechanisms: Given the complex and often contentious nature of national issues, establishing robust mechanisms for conflict resolution is essential.
11. Leveraging National and Diaspora Expertise: Syria has a wealth of local expertise as well as valuable insights from Syrians abroad. Tapping into these resources can significantly strengthen the dialogue process.
12. Ownership and Funding: While external support and expertise can be beneficial, it is crucial that funding and ownership of the process remain firmly in Syrian hands. This ensures that the initiative is seen as a home-grown, inclusive effort rather than an externally imposed on

The upcoming National Dialogue in Syria is a critical opportunity to pave the way toward an inclusive and peaceful future. By getting inspired by global expiriences and embedding legitimacy at every stage—from the preparatory committee to the decision-making process—Syria can set itself on a path toward meaningful transformation.

WHAT OTHER FACTORS DO YOU FIND RELEVANT?

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