Heritage After Assad: A Decolonial Framework for Post-Conflict Syria

In conflict and post-conflict settings, cultural heritage and memory are often weaponized as instruments of dispute and legitimization. This article critically examines this dynamic in Syria, where the Syrian Revolution (2011–2024) and the fall of the Ba’athist regime have created an opportunity to redefine the nation’s cultural and political landscape. Grounded in ethnographic fieldwork with diverse local communities, including ethnic and religious minorities, this study offers a theoretical framework for decolonizing heritage in post-Assad Syria. It argues that moving beyond conventional preservation and reconstruction paradigms to adopt participatory, people-centered approaches is critical. Such a decolonization approach enhances the societal impact of heritage, transforming it from a tool of conflict into a foundation for equity, social cohesion, and sustainable recovery.