From Federalism to Hypercentralization: Decentralization in Syrian Constitutions in their Historical Context (LSE Seminar)

From Federalism to Hypercentralization: Decentralization in Syrian Constitutions in their Historical Context

Friday 20 May, 17:00 BST

This hybrid event will be hosted in person in London. For those who cannot attend the in-person event are welcome to join us online via Zoom by registering on the following link: 

https://lse.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ba8TjwsTQf2eh9mGDojnlw

Throughout its 100 years of constitutional history the Syrian constitutions adopted dramatically different approaches to decentralizations. But what context shaped these choices and what are the implications on the recent debate on this issue?

In this event, the speakers will discuss how Syrian constitutions handled decentralization and local governance since 1920 draft constitution up to the current 2012 constitution, investigating the political, social, and economic motives that led to the chosen approach in each of these constitutions. They will focus on the three dimensions of decentralization: political, administrative and economic, and also discuss how the decentralization arrangements handled the delicate question of the representation of the minorities.

This event comes in the context of launching a research paper that researchers have published “From Federalism to Hypercentralization: Decentralization in Syrian Constitutions in their Historical Context”.

The Arabic version of the paper is available through: https://eprints.lse.ac.uk/115101/

The full English version will be available soon.

Chair:   

Prof. Mary Kaldor is a Professor Emeritus of Global Governance and Director of the Conflict Research Programme at The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

Speakers: 

Dr. Rim Turkmani is the Principal Investigator of the  “Legitimacy and Citizenship in the Arab World” programme and the research director of the Conflict Research Programme – Syria Team at London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

Dr. Zedoun Alzoubi is a Syrian researcher and expert in governance and local administration.

Mazen Gharibah is a Syrian researcher at the Legitimacy and Citizenship in the Arab World programme and Conflict Research Programme at LSE.