Omar Abdulaziz Hallaj's op-ed discusses the challenges and dynamics of urban-rural balance in Syria, focusing on the changes over the past fifteen years. The author highlights the transition of Syria into an urban-majority country, noting that the urban population now exceeds half of the total population. However, this shift is complex, as many smaller cities are essentially rural in their economy and culture, and the rural-urban migration has created strong links between the countryside and urban areas.

The op-ed points out that while rural residents still constitute about half of Syria's population, the contribution of agriculture to the national GDP has significantly declined. This economic shift has led to a decrease in rural labor force participation in agriculture. The government's previously strong interest in rural development has diminished, leading to underdevelopment and lack of necessary infrastructure in rural areas.

Mr. Hallaj critiques the state's accumulated policies over decades, which initially aimed to develop the countryside but eventually led to a counterproductive state of development. The government's strategies included inappropriate land ownership policies, centralization, and misdirected agricultural support, resulting in issues like unsustainable irrigation, corruption, and lack of accountability.

The government's attempts at agrarian reform, which included redistribution of agricultural property, initially spurred rural development but eventually led to fragmentation of land holdings. This fragmentation, along with global trends in agricultural production, made Syrian agriculture less competitive.

The author argues that government support for agriculture, aimed at ensuring loyalty, led to dependency and stifled innovation in agricultural practices. This support was economically unsound and fostered corruption and nepotism. Furthermore, the migration of rural populations to cities for better economic opportunities has weakened the social and economic fabric of rural areas.

In conclusion, Mr. Hallaj suggests that the solution to these challenges lies in replacing direct government support with comprehensive development programs for rural areas. These programs should focus on community development, empowering local administrations, modernizing agriculture, creating economic incentives, expanding rural services, improving education, encouraging light industries, and ensuring better administrative representation in rural areas. The op-ed emphasizes the need for a balanced approach to address the complex interplay between urban and rural development in Syria.