As Syria begins a new political phase, the country has entered a complex period of restructuring both authority and collective consciousness, shaped by the long war, extensive migration, and deep demographic changes. These transformations have produced a new environment for politics and society, where the questions of oversight and accountability have become more urgent, and where political culture is shifting toward transparency and public participation rather than coerced obedience.
During the rule of the ousted Bashar al-Assad regime, a strict governmental oversight system prevailed. It depended on state centralization and absolute control over media, institutions, and cultural activity. Oversight served as a tool to control society and maintain superficial stability, but it reduced freedom of expression and weakened society’s ability to practice any form of counter-monitoring. Citizens had no meaningful role in holding the government accountable, and official information was subject to a rigid network of control, leaving public discourse severely limited.
In the post-fall phase, a gradual shift began from traditional governmental oversight to a new model of public oversight, where local communities, independent media, and social platforms now play a central role in exposing corruption and monitoring public performance. This shift marks the beginning of a new environment that could enable a gradual transition from government oversight of society to society’s oversight of government, a transformation that was impossible under the former regime.
However, public oversight faces significant challenges, most notably the absence of strong and independent institutions, the complexity of the social and political structure, and the difficulty of achieving security stability amid an evolving transitional period. Despite these challenges, real opportunities are emerging to strengthen public oversight. It can become a constructive element in the new state through the expansion of civil society, the rise of more independent media initiatives, and the growing awareness among citizens of the importance of public
Oversight Mechanisms and the Transitional Phase in Syria
International law specialist Majid Boudan tells +963 that the oversight of government and the executive authority, including the head of state, ministers, and the prime minister, lies at the core of constitutional principles.
He warns, however, that constitutional texts can turn into empty slogans if not reinforced by practical mechanisms that ensure the independence and neutrality of oversight bodies.
Boudan adds that the current transitional phase in Syria requires a clear plan with defined timelines to establish the rule of law.
He notes that public oversight, exercised through civil society, can be effective provided that associations remain independent from political parties, the executive authority, business elites, and ideological or religious lobbies, and that they maintain full transparency while granting citizens a direct role in monitoring and accountability. This ensures clear disclosure of complaints and grievances and prevents associations from being exploited for partisan or factional purposes.
Boudan also highlights the model of the European Union, where citizens can appeal to the European Court of Human Rights against any violation committed by the executive, legislative, or judicial authorities.
He suggests drawing inspiration from this model by establishing a Mediterranean Court of Human Rights, serving citizens in Mediterranean countries, including Arab states. Such an institution would reinforce the rule of law and enhance long-term protection of rights, representing a new civilizational step for Syria and the wider region.
Popular Participation as Safeguard Against the Reproduction of Authoritarianism
Academic Ismat al-Absi tells +963 that popular participation in the post-conflict phase constitutes a source of legitimacy and a safeguard against the return of authoritarianism, even within a politically and security-wise fragile environment.
He notes that participation tools must be simple and effective. These include digital complaint platforms, elected local councils with oversight functions, financial transparency and participatory auditing, and performance indicators.
In post-conflict settings, community oversight aims to dismantle entrenched corruption networks, build trust, and regulate reconstruction processes. Yet it faces challenges such as institutional fragility, weak societal trust, and internal divisions. For this reason, tools must be flexible and realistic, relying on independent media, digital platforms, and local accountability mechanisms to be effective and sustainable, according to al-Absi.
From Formality to Effectiveness: Parliament as the Oversight Voice of the People
Al-Absi stresses that parliament can become a genuine oversight voice for the people by building a practical parliamentary oversight framework that includes: establishing permanent specialized committees in finance, security, and services with access to information; holding public and closed sessions to review government performance and policies; issuing binding reports with corrective action plans and follow-up mechanisms; exercising oversight over the budget and public spending; strengthening representation and operational transparency; and reducing executive appointments while reinforcing periodic communication with citizens to enhance practical accountability.
He emphasizes that if these legislative powers are coupled with an institutional oversight system and operational transparency, parliament can subject the government to practical, not rhetorical, accountability and become an effective tool for transforming public oversight into a sustainable structural element in the new Syrian state, ensuring the non-return of the unilateral oversight that defined the pre-fall era.
