Since the Baath coup on March 8, 1963, the Syrian authority has transformed the state from a public space for all citizens to a private space for loyalists to the security apparatus. Herein lies the importance of presenting an alternative political vision for future Syria post-change, centered around key political questions: affirming the state's neutrality as the state of all components of Syrian society, determining the form of the political system, the administrative system of the new political regime, and addressing issues of the state, citizenship, public and individual freedoms, as well as a foreign policy that serves the project of rebuilding a new Syria. In this context, we recognize that, following the societal destruction witnessed in Syria, especially since 2011, there are significant difficulties that will confront the transitional phase, which is one of the most critical issues for Syria's future.  

The peaceful popular movement began in March 2011 after the absence of political and civic life for fifty years. One could say that the popular movement, in one of its most significant aspects, aimed to recover politics and practice it.  

So, what institutions are capable of producing a new political life for all components of the Syrian people, and are qualified to reproduce the modern state in a way that transforms the current chaos into a constructive process, not based on conflict but on a comprehensive Syrian national pact? What needs to be changed? How can the security state be dismantled? How can the political system be re-instituted to establish a democratic regime that facilitates change at all levels?  

Undoubtedly, this requires restructuring the political system, launching the freedom to form parties and civil society organizations, restructuring the security apparatus, building a modern national army, as well as ensuring guarantees for fair elections, transitional justice, and national reconciliation. Thus, it seems that the potential for politics in our society hinges on changing the rules of power production, its functioning mechanisms, and forms of practice.  

The Expected Political Life in Future Syria  
The future of Syria depends on a genuine political transition that ends the tyranny and replaces it with a democratic regime. After the change, it is essential to re-establish the political system, starting with reorganizing the new administration and political life, enabling the generation of an effective civil society and influential political parties that gain sufficient trust from the public. The goal is to restore citizens' confidence in the state, necessitating consensus among Syrians to create new foundations leading to a "new social contract."  

The process of democratic transition in Syria involves numerous challenges, as it responds to a complex situation that begins with politics and does not end with societal destruction and the disruption of human relations among the components of the Syrian people.  

In this context, if the forces of change do not recognize the difficulties surrounding the transitional phase and formulate approaches to effectively engage with these challenges, by seeking to build national consensuses, achieving stability seems nearly impossible.  

Here, the importance of civil society organizations emerges, as they enhance positive values among Syrian citizens by initiating national dialogue on issues that concern the public interest.  

The catastrophe faced by the Syrian people necessitates adopting a modern constitution that guarantees the protection of fundamental freedoms and civil, political, social, economic, and cultural rights—both collective and individual—for all Syrians based on equality among them.  

To ensure a genuine political life, we can draw from the experiences of democratic change movements the following key lessons:  
1. Democratic transformation requires continuous cumulative work, leading us not to indulge in the illusion of rapid political change.  
2. Since democracy is a cumulative process that relies on the presence of a democratic culture, there is no guarantee that change will directly lead to achieving democracy.  

The success of the transition process depends on the availability of: intensive political awareness for broad sectors of youth and women, forming a broad "historical bloc" of political forces working for the success of this option, leveraging international support for the democratic option, and cutting off paths for counter-revolutionary forces.  

2: Options for the Political System's Shape  
In the post-change phase, selecting the appropriate political system—presidential, parliamentary, or mixed—is crucial to avoid political instability. An inappropriate choice may lead to crises that threaten civil peace, especially if the political and social tensions that Syria has experienced over the past fourteen years persist.  

For the best option, we will review the main characteristics of the three political systems, and then determine the most suitable system for future Syria:  
- **Presidential System**: In this system, executive powers are concentrated in the hands of the President, allowing major parties to dominate decision-making in a constitutional process that often veers toward a rigid separation of powers, often leading back to dictatorship. Syria seems to need a political system that ensures plurality, based on wide participation from political forces, and guarantees stability.  
- **Parliamentary System**: This system features a dual executive authority, where the ministry is accountable to

Dr. Abdullah Turkmani