A BATTLEGROUND FOR NARRATIVES, POST-BASHAR AL-ASAD ERA AND NARRATING THE NATION IN SYRIA

Öz

ABSTRACT The most important question in today’s Syria is how the nation will be rebuilt in the post-Assad era. Syria, which has failed to seal the concept of ‘nation,’ including the Assad era, is a matter of questioning as to what kind of narrative it will present for the post-Assad era. The unity that was achieved in opposition to the Assad regime, has given way to uncertainty with the overthrow of the regime, becoming the scene of a narrative struggle between different groups. As a matter of fact, the war that is about to end in the field is giving way to a narrative struggle. In this direction, the battlefield is becoming an area where the one who presents an accurate narrative can win, not the one who has the superiority of arms and troops. Setting off with Ricoeur and his narrative theory, the article inquires to understand how Syria was not able to introduce a generally accepted narrative in past experiences. While the narrative focuses on bringing together all components of a society on a common ground for the sake of building a collective identity, it is seen that Syria has seized the opportunity to present an inclusive narrative today, even though the exact opposite practices have been implemented in the past. Key words: Narrative, Syria, Nation, Identity, Civil war. Jel Classification: F50, N40

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Narrative
• Syria
• Nation
• Identity
• Civil War

ANLATILARIN SAVAŞ ALANI, BEŞŞAR ESAD SONRASI DÖNEM VE SURİYE’DE ULUSUN YENİDEN KURGUSU

Öz

ÖZET Günümüz Suriye’sinde merak edilen en önemli soru, Esad sonrası dönemde ulusun yeniden inşasının nasıl gerçekleşeceği meselesidir. Elli yıldır hüküm süren Esad yönetimi de dâhil olmak üzere ‘ulus’ kavramının içini doldurmayı başaramayan Suriye, Esad sonrası dönem için nasıl bir anlatı ortaya koyacağı merak konusudur. Epey bir süredir devam eden iç-savaş zarfında Esad rejimine muhalefet ekseninde sağlanan birlik, rejimin devrilmesiyle beraber yerini, farklı kesimlerin anlatı mücadelesine bırakmıştır. Sahada bitmek üzere olan sıcak çatışma ve savaş hali yerini anlatı mücadelesine bırakmaktadır. Bu doğrultuda artık silah ve asker üstünlüğü olanın değil, doğru ve güçlü bir anlatı ortaya koyanın kazanabileceği bir alan haline gelmektedir. Ricoeur’un anlatı teorisinden yola çıkarak çalışma bugüne değin Suriye’de genel kabul gören bir anlatının neden gerçekleşmediği hususuna değinmektedir. Anlatı merkezinde kolektif kimlik inşası adına toplumun tüm bileşenlerini ortak bir paydada buluşturulması esası gözetilirken, Suriye’de tarihsel süreçte tam tersi uygulamaların gerçekleştiği görülmekle beraber, günümüzde kapsayıcı bir anlatı ortaya koyma fırsatsını yakaladığı görülmektedir. Anahtar kelimeler: Anlatı, Suriye, Ulus, Kimlik, İç savaş. Jel Sınıflandırma: F50, N40

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Anlatı
• Suriye
• Ulus
• Kimlik
• İç Savaş

Kaynakça

1. Aljazeera, (2025, 13 Mart ) Syria’s al-Sharaa signs temporary constitution, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/13/syrias-al-sharaa-signs-five-year-temporary-constitution (Erişim Tarihi: 20.03.2025)
2. Aljazeera, (2025, 10 Mart) Syria merges Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces into state institutions, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/10/syria-merges-kurdish-led-syrian-democratic-forces-into-state-institutions (Erişim Tarihi: 21.03.2025)
3. Al-Khatib, M. (2021). “Syrian Revolution and the Conflict over Narratives” Syria Untold-Civil Voices, https://syriauntold.com/2021/03/19/syrian-revolution-and-the-conflict-over-narratives (Erişim Tarihi: 05.01.2025)
4. Al-Sharaa, A. (2025, 25 Şubat). Speech at the National Dialogue Conference, AP News, https://apnews.com/article/syria-national-dialogue-conference-ahmad-alsharaa-0a25799b189707a500c3e5fd1b8cb692 (Erişim Tarihi: 05.03.2025 )
5. Altman, R. (2008). A Theory of Narrative. Columbia University Press, NY. Arendt, H. (1958). The Human Condition. Chicago University Press, Chicago. Baczko, A. G. Dorronsoro, A. Quesnay. (2018). Civil War in Syria, Mobilization and Competing Social Orders, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
6. Berger, S. (2008). Narrating the Nation: Historiography and Other Genres in Stefan Berger, Linas Eriksonas, Andrew Mycock (eds.) Narrating the Nation, Representations in History, Media, and the Arts, Berghahn Books, NY.
7. Bhabha, H. (1990). Nation and Narration, Routledge, London. Chatman, S. (1975). Towards a Theory of Narrative, New Literary History, Vol. 6, No:2, pp.295-318.
8. Corman, S. R. (2013, 21 Mart). The Difference Between Story and Narrative, Center for Strategic Communication, University of Arizona Website, https://csc.asu.edu/2013/03/21/the-difference-between-story-and-narrative/ (Erişim tarihi: 20.12.2024)

9. De Fina, A, & Georgakopoulou A.. (2012). Analyzing Narrative: Discourse and Sociolinguistic Perspectives, Cambridge University Press, NY.
10. Dığeym, H. (2025, 17 February). PKK YPG uzantıları Suriye Ulusal Diyalog Konferansında temsil edilmeyecek, Anadolu Ajansı, https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/gundem/pkk-ypg-uzantilari-suriye-ulusal-diyalog-konferansina-dahil-edilmeyecek/3484217 (Erişim tarihi: 01.03.2025 )
11. Eley, G. & Suny, R. G. (1996). Introduction, in G. Eley and R. Grigor Suny, (eds), Becoming National: A Reader, Oxford, London.
12. Elliott, J. (2009) Using Narrative in Social Research: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches, Sage, London.
13. Fiske, S. T. (2010). Social beings: Core motives in Social Psychology (2nd ed.). Wiley. NY.
14. Foucault, M. (1980b). Truth and Power: An Interview. in C. Gordon (ed.) Power/Knowledge: Selected Interviews and Other Writings 1972–1977. Harvester Wheatsheaf, London.
15. Foucault, M. (1986). Nietzsche, Genealogy, History. In P. Rabinow (ed.) The Foucault Reader. Peregrine, Harmondsworth
16. Freedman, L. (2006). Networks, Culture and Narratives Networks, Culture and Narratives. Adelphi Papers, 45 (379).
17. Graef, J., Da Silva, R. & Hebert, Nicholas L. M. (2018). Narrative, Political Violence, and Social Change, Studies in Conflict and Terrorism 43 (6), 431-443.
18. Gritten, D. (2025, 14 Mart). Syria leader signs temporary constitution for five-year transition, BBC, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c70ely2p6e4o (Erişim Tarihi: 20.03.2025)
19. International Crisis Group. (2011, 6 Temmuz). Popular Protest in North Africa and the Middle East (VI): The Syrian People’s Slow Motion Revolution, Middle East/North Africa Report No.108. https://www.crisisgroup.org/sites/default/files/108-popular-protest-in-north-africa-and-the-middle-east-vi-the-syrian-people-s-slow-motion-revolution.pdf (Erişim tarihi: 13.02.2025)
20. Ismail, S. (2011). The Syrian Uprising: Imagining and Reforming the Nation, Studies in Ethnicity and Nationalism, 11 (3), 538-549.
21. Jimenez-Blanco, M.S. (2024). The Battle of the Narratives Around Syria, The German Marshall Fund of the U.S, https://www.gmfus.org/news/battle-narratives-around-syria (Erişim tarihi: 21.01.2025)
22. Jones, M. D. & McBeth M. K. (2010) A narrative policy framework: clear enough to be wrong? Policy Studies Journal, 38 (2), 329–353.
23. Kassab, R.Y. & L. Al-Shami. (2016). Burning Country: Syrians in Revolution and War. Pluto Press, London.
24. Marquez, G.C. (1988). Gabriel García Márquez and the Powers of Fiction. Julıo Ortega and Claudıa Ellıott (eds.). University of Texas Press, Texas.
25. Miskimmon, A., O’Loughlin, B., & Roselle, L. (2017). Introduction. in Forging the World: Strategic Narratives and International Relations, Alister Miskimmon, Ben O’Loughlin, and Laura Roselle (eds.), pp.2– 22. Michigan University Press, Michigan.
26. Patterson, M. ve Monroe, K.R. (1998). Narrative in Political Science, Annual Reviews Political Science, 1:315-331.
27. Ricoeur, P. (2009). Living up to Death, (translated by David Pellauer) The University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
28. Ricoeur, P. (1992). Oneself As Another, (translated by Kathleen Blamey) The University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
29. Ricoeur, P. (1990). Time and Narrative: Volume 1, (translated by Kathleen McLaughlin and David Pellauer) The University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
30. Ricoeur, P. (1988). Time and narrative: Volume 3, (trans. K. McLaughlin and D. Pellauer.) University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
31. Salih, M.A. (2025). It’a a Recipe for One-man Rule: Syria’s New Constitution Shatters Hopes https://bianet.org/haber/it-s-a-recipe-for-one-man-rule-syrias-new-constitution-shatters-hopes-305730 (Erişim tarihi, 21.03.2025)
32. Shanahan, E. A., Jones, M. D., & McBeth, M. K. (2011). Policy Narratives and Policy Processes. Policy Studies Journal, 39(3), 535–561.
33. Sommers, M.R & Gibson, G D. (1993). Reclaiming the Epistemogical Other: Narrative and the Social Constitution of Identity, CSST Working Paper No:94, The University of Michigan, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/30852010_Reclaiming_the_Epistemological_Other_Narrative_and_the_Social_Constitution_of_Identity (Erişim tarihi, 10.01.2025)
34. Suriye Arap Cumhuriyeti Anayasası. (2025). https://constitutionnet.org/sites/default/files/2025- 03/2025.03.13%20-%20Constitutional%20declaration%20%28English%29.pdf (Erişim Tarihi: 15.03.2025)
35. Vlahos, M. (2006). The Long War: A Self- Fulfilling Prophecy of Protracted Conflict and Defeat. The National Interest, https://nationalinterest.org/feature/the-long-war-a-self-fulfilling-prophecy-of-protracted-conflict-and-defeat-1061 (Erişim Tarihi: 10.01.2025 )
36. Warren, M. (2016, 18 Eylül) Obama spokesman: “we are in a fight, a narrative fight” with ISIS, Weekly Standard, (Erişim Tarihi: 12.02.2025 )