By Zayed Alzyoud
The University of Jordan (UJ) Center for Strategic Studies (CSS), in cooperation with the Politics and Society Institute, on Monday hosted a panel discussion titled Syria’s Political Transition: Challenges and Prospects, attended by UJ President Prof. Nathir Obeidat, along with MPs, academics and researchers specialising in Syrian affairs.
The session, moderated by lawyer Saed Karadsheh, featured Syrian scholar and political sociologist Burhan Ghalioun.
Ghalioun said change in Syria is no longer optional, citing deep economic and humanitarian pressures and widespread damage to infrastructure. He added that the priority in the coming phase should be to move the country out of its prolonged crisis and begin rebuilding state institutions.
He noted that steps to ease sanctions have opened new space for civil society to operate, provided they are accompanied by a comprehensive and credible reform plan.
Ghalioun stressed that preserving Syria’s territorial unity must remain central to any political transition, adding that addressing unresolved issues with the Syrian Democratic Forces would help ease internal tensions.
He said the conflict has evolved beyond a simple struggle for power into a broader search for stability and recovery, emphasising that restoring effective state institutions is key to rebuilding social cohesion.
He called for coordinated Arab and international support during the transition period, alongside a clear reform roadmap and practical measures to strengthen governance and public services.
On Jordan’s role, Ghalioun described the Kingdom as a key pillar in efforts to stabilise Syria and advance a political settlement through dialogue and sustained regional and international engagement.
He also underscored the importance of empowering youth, rejecting sectarianism and racism, and building an inclusive political framework that represents all segments of Syrian society.