Can the equations change if civil society is envisioned to take responsibility for overseeing political parties and movements, or is its role limited to educating and raising awareness among them?

The social civil movement in Damascus represents a glimmer of hope for a better future, as activists aspire to social participation in building a more just and free society. Despite the numerous challenges they face, their determination and insistence on achieving change remain strong. Future political parties and movements may confront these scenarios and deduce the key factors for the continued success of the civil movement in Syrian cities like Damascus and Aleppo. My observations suggest that this movement has effectively contributed to maintaining civil peace and peaceful coexistence in the old neighborhoods of Damascus, which are considered a reservoir of rich Syrian diversity and multiple civilizations, focusing primarily on the shared Syrian identity and the rights of all citizens, both female and male, with a particular emphasis on human rights, and the rights of women and children, creating a common ground among different sectors. Participants recognize that community reconciliation requires trust building and overcoming the disagreements sown by the fallen regime as tools for controlling society. Importantly, participants voluntarily distinguish the civil movement from politics.

In my view, the noticeable social civil movement in Damascus, the Syrian capital, plays a prominent role where revolutionaries and activists are involved. It is bound to bring about radical changes in the social, political, and economic structure of the city, reinforcing the spirit of the values of freedom, justice, and equality. Within this context, it is important to mention some of the Damascus figures who have made notable efforts in sustaining this civil movement, led by both prominent and unannounced personalities. However, the presence of these young individuals compensates for that absence due to their tireless efforts in serving the Damascus community. At the forefront is Dr. Anas Al-Qahouji, who has worked vigorously to prepare young men and women to form a protective shield at the time of the tyrant's fall, considering them the essential cornerstone for building a future Syria based on enlightenment, ethics, science, and development, and establishing security and peace for all. Among these young people are activists Bilal Halwani, Abu Abdu Al-Shaghouri, Abu Issam Al-Shaghouri, Abu Mahmoud Saudi, Abu Fahd Al-Nan, civil activist Mohammad Al-Qazzaz, Nour Halwani, and many others whose names cannot all be mentioned here. We appreciate all their efforts and commend every Syrian who works from their position for Syria and all its sons and daughters. I would also like to commend the role of several female activists who preferred not to disclose their names, affirming that their work is a moral and humanitarian duty aimed at alleviating the suffering of affected Syrian families.

This movement and others spread across several provinces, including Aleppo, where the concept is leaning towards building a healed nation. I believe mentioning these names is not solely due to their involvement in civil work, but also serves as proof that real change begins from the ground up, from those who act without being asked to do so and without any compensation because they are convinced that dedication to issues of justice begins from achieving noble national and humanitarian goals that are not conditional on belonging to political currents or parties, nor even characterized by loyalty to any specific figure, since they work for their belief that religion belongs to God alone and the homeland belongs to all.

The objective summary of this movement is that it is a social expression founded on the historical culture that has shaped the identity of the Syrian individual, with a focus on pressing humanitarian issues, community reconciliation, and reconstruction, which has gained significant welcome from all segments of society, especially since it has avoided opinions and slipping along the political orientations of various parties and political movements.

According to the previous perception, I believe that the continuation of the civil society movement establishes a solid concept for neutralizing civil society from political exploitation and contributes to maintaining the unity and cohesion of the segments of the Syrian society that has gained its freedom to express opinions and participate in shaping national decisions, where "there is no authority above the authority of the people and the constitution."

Is this a part of the positive role model that activists show through their commitment to humanitarian values and citizenship, building strong relationships with the local community, which makes them active partners and observers in enhancing trust in the political process? This, in turn, needs extensive community mobilization as it plays a significant role in building trust between society and the state. Women play a pivotal role in this context, contributing to bolstering values and goals. Standing on these real experiences and supporting them will help develop civil society reconstruction and build extensive community networks that enhance coordination and cooperation among various sectors, thereby preparing a suitable environment for the launch of local social and political life, reassuring businessmen, and encouraging them to implement investment projects that energize the local market and stimulate the flow of foreign investments.

In conclusion, these combined interactions are likely an opportunity driven by appropriate welcome to enhance the chances of building a dialogue environment.

 by: Ahmed Mansour