As Ahmad Al-Sharaa is inaugurated as Syria’s president, the country enters a new phase. Syria, which had endured years of coups—so much so that it was said Syrians could anticipate them before they happened due to the constant conflicts among military comrades—later transitioned into a Stalinist era under the Assad regime, until the son fled.
Now, a new chapter begins, filled with both challenges and great hopes. Al-Sharaa managed the previous stage with pragmatic wisdom. He understood international balances, avoided unnecessary conflicts, and strengthened relations with key regional and global powers. Most importantly, he did not resort to the repetitive slogans of past regimes about colonialism, Zionism, and imperialism, which were often chanted while people suffered from hunger and poverty.
The new administration, led by President Al-Sharaa, arrived in Damascus at the right historical moment—at a time when extreme nationalist and religious ideologies are fading. These ideologies have proven bankrupt after decades of repeated, futile experiments. They were misused, turned into cheap propaganda to cling to power, and imposed by force as a fait accompli.
We now see how the devastated people of Gaza groan under the weight of destruction after 15 months of brutal Israeli war. They were quite literally thrown into hell for a year and a half, without having a say or even knowing why, only to find themselves back at square one—except this time, their homes are gone. Meanwhile, behind them, voices shout victory as they sift through rubble, trying to rebuild their lives.
We also saw how Bashar Al-Assad exhausted all Arab nationalist rhetoric before fleeing to Moscow with billions, leaving behind a shattered and impoverished country. Similarly, we see how Naim Qassem struggles to salvage Hezbollah’s fractured image following Hassan Nasrallah’s assassination, parading a façade of victory while his supporters bear the consequences of war and the Lebanese people celebrate reclaiming their state from the grip of militias.
Undoubtedly, Al-Sharaa has history’s book open before him, studying the experiences of nations—both those that failed and those that succeeded. He sees how past leaders’ flawed governance plunged their resource-rich countries into wars, famines, and sanctions, turning their populations into refugees hounded at borders or impoverished masses begging for survival.
His rhetoric and leadership style suggest that he and his administration have learned the lesson well, understanding the path they must take despite extremist voices attempting to speak on their behalf or drag them into conflicts that are neither theirs nor Syria’s.
All past experiments that weaponized religious and nationalist ideologies have ended in failure. We live in a different era—one where nations are interconnected, capital flows to stable and promising environments, and countries compete in tourism, industry, airport construction, and artificial intelligence advancements. The modern struggle among great powers is no longer about occupying lands or imposing ideologies but rather a battle for wealth and economic prosperity, which in turn drives military strength and diplomatic influence.
Today, development sits atop national priorities, and successful governments are those that create a prosperous future for their people. Religious wars have ended, the era of conquerors is over, and most slogans of death and fanaticism have nearly died out. The age of ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, Al-Baghdadi, Bashar Al-Assad, Muammar Gaddafi, and Saddam Hussein is over. It was a barren phase that has now concluded. Any leader attempting to revive these ideologies is destined for international isolation, political failure, and economic decline.
In his speech at Davos, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shibani chose his words carefully, emphasizing that Syria draws inspiration from Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and Singapore’s success. These two nations exemplify how to overcome obstacles, seize opportunities, and foster a culture of tolerance that welcomes people of all nationalities and religions, creating an investment-friendly environment that attracts major corporations. Most importantly, both countries have moved beyond dead ideologies and focus solely on the future.
This is the most crucial lesson—one that Al-Sharaa seems to grasp well. It is also the only lesson that can truly help Syria escape the tunnel it has been stuck in for over five decades.