As needs in Syria grow, aid keeps shrinking–a toxic and cyclical double whammy. Adjusted for inflation, we show how actual aid contributions for 2024 are the lowest since the inception of the Brussels Conference. Further still, UN-channeled funds have experienced steeper declines. The outlook for 2025 is equally bleak.

Prices are finally falling, driven by customs reforms, the easing of domestic barriers to trade, and currency appreciation. However, when current constraints on liquidity are lifted, this might reverse.

This first article in a three-part series charts the evolution of Syria’s tax and fee systems during the conflict to inform ongoing reform efforts.

The composition of Syria’s new cabinet signals a shift in tone, with better credentials and broader representation. Yet power remains concentrated in familiar circles.

Yassin Al-Haj Saleh, Syrian writer and former political prisoner
The Alawite massacres expose the deep entrenchment of sectarian rule in Syria. Unless the new authorities confront this “genocratic” structure, the cycle of identity-based violence will persist.

Ethan Goldrich reflects on his term and proposes a policy approach toward dealing with Syria.