Administrative Governance in Idlib: An Experience of Organisation for the Liberation of the Levant

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Abstract

The article examines the experience of territorial governance of the Organization for the Liberation of the Levant (also known as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham), whose operation against the Syrian army led to the fall of Bashar alAssad’s regime on December 8, 2024. It details how the leaders of the faction, once affiliated with al-Qaeda, created and enhanced the effectiveness of quasi-state entities and soft power tools by rebuilding infrastructure, organizing educational processes, negotiating with minorities, and convening conferences with tribal leaders. The article presents data demonstrating both positive and negative results of the experience of territorial governance of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham faction and its affiliated Salvation Government, on the basis of which the interim government of Syria was established on December 9, 2024. It is shown that the faction combined forceful actions against its opponents with the initiation of anticrisis measures that allowed it to increase its legitimacy among the local population.

About the authors

A. G Mardasov

RIAC; Center for Public Diplomacy

Email: anton.mardasoff@yandex.ru
Expert, Russian International Affairs Council; Leading Expert, Center for Public Diplomacy Moscow, Russia; Moscow, Russia

L. M Issaev

HSE University; Institute for African Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: lisaev@hse.ru
Dr.Sc. (Political Science), Associate Professor, Vice Director, Centre for Stability and Risk Analysis, HSE University; Senior Researcher, Centre for Civilizational and Regional Studies, Institute for African Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences Moscow, Russia; Moscow, Russia

References

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