Syria After Assad: History, Identity, and the Search for Stability

Program Overview 

The collapse of the Bashar al-Assad government in 2024 marked a historic turning point for Syria, ending more than five decades of rule by one of the Middle East's most enduring political dynasties. Yet while the end of the Assad era closed one chapter in Syria's history, it opened a host of new questions about governance, national identity, regional stability, and the country's future role in the Middle East. 

For centuries, Syria has stood at the crossroads of civilizations, religions, empires, and competing geopolitical interests. Its strategic location and rich cultural diversity have made it both a center of regional influence and a battleground for external powers. Today, as Syrians navigate an uncertain political transition, the country's history remains essential to understanding the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. 

Join the World Affairs Council of Atlanta for a timely conversation with Jeffrey S. Sanow, a former senior CIA intelligence officer whose extensive travels and research in Syria provide a unique perspective on the country's evolution. Drawing on decades of firsthand observation and deep historical knowledge, Sanow will examine the forces that shaped modern Syria, the legacy of the Assad era, and the geopolitical realities influencing the country's future. 

The discussion will explore Syria's complex religious and cultural landscape, the consequences of years of conflict, the interests of regional and global powers, and the prospects for political stability and reconstruction. As policymakers and observers assess what comes next for Syria, understanding the country's history, identity, and strategic significance remains critical to understanding the future of the Middle East. 

Agenda

• 12:00–12:05 p.m.: Welcome, speaker introduction 

• 12:05–12:35 p.m.: Moderated fireside dialogue with speaker 

• 12:35–12:55 p.m.: Audience Q&A 

• 12:55–1:00 p.m.: Closing remarks

Distinguished Speaker 

Jeffrey Sanow is a former CIA intelligence officer and one of the world’s leading security and intelligence experts, now serves as a special advisor to the Los Angeles Tribune. He is the author of Damascus: City of Shadows.  

Moderator 

Rickey Bevington is an Emmy Award–winning journalist and nationally respected voice on global affairs, civic leadership, and the future of media. She serves as President of the World Affairs Council of Atlanta and Executive in Residence at Georgia State University’s Robinson College of Business, bringing decades of storytelling expertise and public engagement leadership to global dialogue. Previously, she spent more than 20 years as a television and radio journalist with outlets including Georgia Public Broadcasting, NPR, PBS NewsHour, and Marketplace, and delivered a widely recognized TEDx talk on media literacy and civic responsibility. An internationally engaged leader, Bevington has participated in elite leadership programs and fellowships across Europe and Asia and is a sought-after moderator who has interviewed figures ranging from President Jimmy Carter to General David Petraeus. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, Chair of the Agnes Scott College Board of Visitors, and a magna cum laude graduate of Barnard College