Forever Has Fallen
The End of Syria's Assad
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 6287300 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Lisa Wedeen (0000-0002-7713-5881, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 36 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 50-58 |
| Publication date | 2025-04-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of democracy (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1045-5736 • E-ISSN: 1086-3214 |
| Publisher | Project MUSE (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1353/jod.2025.a954562 |
| OpenAlex | W4408883102 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 3 |
When rebel forces seized Damascus on 8 December 2024 and toppled the regime of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, it was impossible not to share in the euphoria over the end of 54 years of brutal dictatorship. After more than a decade of civil war, rebel forces began the offensive that finally brought down the regime, showing Syrians that nothing is permanent, not even dynasties. Political transformation finally came because the regime's backers withdrew their protection and Assad's deeply demoralized army collapsed. The essay explores the challenges facing Syria's new leadership under Ahmad al-Sharaa, including sectarian tensions and the destabilizing influence of Western sanctions and Israeli military interventions. Whatever comes next, this chapter of Syrian suffering is over, though the complexities of transitional justice and the devastating sectarian violence that erupted in March 2025 cast uncertainty over Syria's future
Ancient history · Development economics · Economics · Political science · Global Peace and Security Dynamics · History · Jewish and Middle Eastern Studies · Middle East Politics and Society
| Unique citing works | 3 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 3 |
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 2 |