Identity, Political System and the Constitution

Abstract

The main problems that the state would have to address in the aftermath of the domestic war include identity, political system and constitution. The Syrian opposition is a diverse group comprising of figures from different ethnic, religious and sectarian backgrounds. It seems that the opposition is able to transform the diversity into an asset in the construction of a state and national identity, development of a sound political system and making of a working constitution. The research shows that the opposition figures have agreement on these major issues despite the diversity among them. The overall agreement of the opposition groups in respect to the construction of a national identity suggests that a common Syrian identity could be constructed and that a unified and unitary Syrian state can be achieved in the aftermath of the civil war. The opposition figures, acknowledging the role of Islam in the political system, do not, however, seek to create a sharia-based state.