Yusuf Aslan
Syria’s needs are vast and diverse, encompassing security, public services, healthcare, education, energy, industry, agriculture, housing, transportation, telecommunications, and technology infrastructure. However, despite years of war, Syria still possesses a strong human resource base. This resource will be further strengthened by Syrians returning from Türkiye and other parts of the world.
Throughout the 13 years of war and conflict, marked largely by destruction caused by Assad and his allies, the reconstruction of Syria will not be easy. Yet, the Syrian people, who ended over 60 years of Baath rule, more than 50 years of Assad’s reign, and a 13-year civil war with an extraordinary 13-day revolutionary movement, bringing joy to millions of Syrians and their friends, will rise to rebuild their nation despite the challenges.
With a fast yet deliberate approach, cautious yet courageous, avoiding bureaucratic entanglements but remaining well-planned, comprehensive, and gradual, Syria can create a reconstruction story that serves as an example for both its region and the entire world.
Recent history is filled with examples of countries devastated by war and conflict but later achieving far better conditions than before the war through reconstruction and recovery efforts. The relatively swift recovery of European nations following World War I and II is particularly notable. The reconstruction processes of Germany, heavily defeated and subjected to severe bombing, particularly in its capital, and Japan, devastated by the atomic bomb, should be closely examined.
Similarly, South Korea’s transformation into a major economic and industrial power today, despite battling immense destruction and poverty after the Korean War, represents another success story worth emphasizing. The recovery processes of former Soviet Bloc countries like Poland, Romania, and the Czech Republic after enduring economic crises and internal conflicts are also valuable to consider.
However, lessons should be drawn not only from positive examples but also from negative ones. Countries like Iraq, Sudan, Libya, and Somalia have failed to achieve the desired success in post-war reconstruction and recovery. In these nations, high levels of external intervention, while providing temporary relief, have often been a major obstacle to lasting stability.
Syria must learn from both positive and negative examples during this process. There is a wealth of experience available to guide it in political, social, economic, and cultural realms. Friendly nations like Türkiye and Qatar can leverage these experiences and insights to help steer the process forward.
Let us assume that Syria’s new administration has devised a plan that takes into account regional and global experiences. Implementing such a plan will require substantial financial resources. However, it appears unlikely that Syria will be able to generate these resources in the short or medium term.
The resources in question here are not the emergency aid sent immediately after the conflicts. Rather, they refer to the financial resources needed to rebuild Syria’s roads, bridges, power plants, airports, schools, hospitals, factories, and housing. Such needs can only be met through an international financial and funding architecture.
After the new administration made temporary appointments to the relevant ministries, international financial institutions began announcing their willingness to contribute to Syria’s reconstruction process. However, 13 years of international aid experience for Syrian refugees has shown that fragmented structures lead to inefficient resource allocation. This process saw redundancies, increased costs, and unmet needs.
Therefore, a financial architecture should be established under the leadership of a country with a strong financial infrastructure like Türkiye. Türkiye could become a focal point by presenting its own model without waiting for international consensus. In this way, Türkiye, with its logistical, supply, and production capacity advantages, can ensure the efficient utilization of resources allocated to Syria.
With a strategic approach to prioritizing areas of need, attracting skilled human resources to the country, and managing international funds effectively, Syria’s recovery could be achievable in the not-so-distant future. Moreover, such an experience for Syria could serve as a model of success for other countries in similar situations in the region and around the world.
Let us hope that just as we cite South Korea today as a success story, others may one day reference Syria as an example of post-war success.