TY - JOUR T1 - Syria in Transition: Political Promises, Economic Challenges, and the Protection Gap in Refugee Returns TT - Syria in Transition: Political Promises, Economic Challenges, and the Protection Gap in AU - Yüksel, Umutcan PY - 2025 DA - April Y2 - 2025 JF - İnsan Hareketliliği Uluslararası Dergisi JO - IJHM PB - Başkent Üniversitesi WT - DergiPark SN - 2792-0461 SP - 147 EP - 158 VL - 5 IS - 1 LA - en AB - This policy commentary analyzes Syria’s political transition following the Assad regime’s fall in December2024, critically examining the implications for refugee protection frameworks, economic reconstructionpolicies, and transitional justice mechanisms. Drawing on developments through April 2025, it evaluates theinterim government’s governance approach under Ahmed al-Sharaa, assesses international donor engagementstrategies, and scrutinizes the United Nations High Commissioners for Refugees (UNHCR)’s policy shift towardfacilitating refugee returns. The analysis identifies a significant policy contradiction between the UNHCR’sestablished protection thresholds and its operational pivot despite unmet safety conditions. While refugeereturn intentions have increased substantially, the commentary argues that current policies prioritize politicalexpediency over protection principles, potentially undermining sustainable reintegration. It recommends thatinternational stakeholders maintain principled engagement in Syria’s reconstruction, ensuring return policiesalign with genuine improvements in conditions rather than political timetables. This commentary concludes thateffective policy interventions during this critical transition period require balancing immediate humanitarianneeds with long-term stability considerations. KW - Refugee Returns KW - Economic Challenges KW - Syria N2 - This policy commentary analyzes Syria’s political transition following the Assad regime’s fall in December2024, critically examining the implications for refugee protection frameworks, economic reconstructionpolicies, and transitional justice mechanisms. Drawing on developments through April 2025, it evaluates theinterim government’s governance approach under Ahmed al-Sharaa, assesses international donor engagementstrategies, and scrutinizes the United Nations High Commissioners for Refugees (UNHCR)’s policy shift towardfacilitating refugee returns. The analysis identifies a significant policy contradiction between the UNHCR’sestablished protection thresholds and its operational pivot despite unmet safety conditions. While refugeereturn intentions have increased substantially, the commentary argues that current policies prioritize politicalexpediency over protection principles, potentially undermining sustainable reintegration. It recommends thatinternational stakeholders maintain principled engagement in Syria’s reconstruction, ensuring return policiesalign with genuine improvements in conditions rather than political timetables. This commentary concludes thateffective policy interventions during this critical transition period require balancing immediate humanitarianneeds with long-term stability considerations. CR - Al Jazeera. (2025, February 26). Key takeaways from Syria’s National Dialogue conference. https://www. aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/26/key-takeaways-from-syrias-national-dialogue-conference CR - AP. (2025, March 17). 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