As part of its commitment to fostering community knowledge and building the intellectual foundation for national recovery, the Civil Society Advancement Organization – GLOCA, in collaboration with the Syrian Dialogue Center, organized a research-based dialogue session titled:
"Social Capital in Syria: Between the Deficit of the Past and Reconstruction for the Future."

📍 Date & Location:
The session was held on Tuesday, 13 Muharram 1447 AH, corresponding to July 8, 2025, at GLOCA’s office in Al-Muhafaza neighborhood, Aleppo, with the participation of a group of activists, researchers, and community stakeholders.

🎙️ Scientific Highlights of the Session

Dr. Ahmad Qurabi, Director of the Syrian Dialogue Center, and Mr. Nawras Al-Abdullah, Director of the Consensus & Shared Identity Unit, delivered two in-depth presentations that covered:

• A conceptual overview of social capital as a complex and evolving notion in political and social development literature.

• Key measurement methodologies of social capital, including indicators used in Western and Arab institutional models.

• An analysis of the current state of social capital in Syria, supported by field data gathered from formerly liberated areas, serving as a microcosm of the Syrian context in terms of trust, cohesion, and institutional cooperation.

💬 Rich Discussions and Open Dialogue

The presentations were followed by engaging contributions from participants, focusing on:

• The roles of families, civil society, and media in restoring Syria’s fragmented social fabric.

• The strained relationship between public trust and government institutions, shaped by years of repression, corruption, and exclusion.

• The importance of localized policies to enhance social capital through education, community dialogue, and accountability.

• Challenges posed by hate speech, societal fragmentation, and the need for civic engagement and inclusive participation.

Participants widely agreed that social capital must be a top national priority in Syria’s recovery and sustainable development agenda, given its essential role in rebuilding trust, fostering national consensus, and shaping a new social contract.

📝 Accompanying Analytical Paper

In conjunction with the event, GLOCA distributed its latest policy paper, released in June 2025, titled:
"Syrians' Recovery and Development Priorities: A Strategic Map"
This comprehensive document presents a multidimensional analysis emphasizing the urgency of integrating the social dimension—especially social capital—into any future national strategy.

📎 Download the full paper here: