In this episode of the International Risk Podcast, Dominic Bowen speaks with Dr Ola Rifai about the evolution of Syrian identity and how competing narratives of nationalism, sectarianism, and statehood have shaped the country’s political trajectory before and after 2011.Find out more about how identity was managed under the Assad regime, how sectarianisation unfolded differently in cities such as Homs and Damascus, and why collective memory, displacement, and institutional weakness continue to influence Syria’s fragile post-conflict landscape.The conversation also examines citizenship, state formation, and the structural challenges of rebuilding trust between communities after prolonged violence. Dr Rifai explores whether a unified Syrian national identity can be reconstructed, and what role education, transitional justice, and institutional reform will play in that process.Finally, they discuss the regional and geopolitical dimensions of Syria’s transformation, the risks posed by unresolved identity fractures, and the indicators policymakers and risk professionals should monitor as Syria navigates its next phase.Tell us what you liked!

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