Rethinking Governance: Insights from Syria during Covid-19

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Authors: Beaujouan, J., El hafi, A., Ghreiz, E, & Odat, A.

Key Findings

  • The main impacts of Covid-19 were observed in the education and economy sectors.
  • All governance systems across Syria failed to use Covid-19 as an opportunity to reinforce their legitimacy and attract public support
  • Emergency governance was more efficient at the local level during the Covid-19 pandemic
  • Potential non-state actors of governance were generally excluded from the emergency response to Covid-19
  • Civil society is multi-faceted across Syria and its nature and actions during the Covid-19 pandemic greatly depended on its relation with central governance institutions
  • Levels of trust generally declined against all actors in Syria, with the exception of grassroots communities and local civil society in the northwest of the country
  • Acts of social solidarity and the emergence of Corona Committees, especially in Daraa governorate, proved that Syrian social unity is not out of reach

This research also suggests general recommendations relevant to the international community, humanitarian workers, and central and local governmental institutions across Syria.