The Vanishing Center:
Elites, Extremes, and Syria’s Polarization
Elites, Extremes, and Syria’s Polarization
Zedoun Al Zoubi joined journalist Alaa Amer for an interview titled ( النخب منغمسة في فجور الخصومة..درعا لم تخذل السويداء وتاريخ سوريا لم يشهد كراهية بهذا الاستقطاب ). Premiered 30 September 2025, the Arabic-language interview was published on YouTube and social media.
In this interview, Zedoun Al Zoubi reflects on the dangerous depth of polarization currently shaping Syria’s social and political landscape, arguing that the country has not witnessed such levels of sectarian and political estrangement in its modern history. He stresses that collective feelings of betrayal—particularly among communities such as those in Suwayda—must be acknowledged as real social facts, even when they are analytically incomplete or unfair. Dismissing these sentiments as simply right or wrong, he argues, only deepens resentment and fuels further fragmentation.
A central theme of the discussion is the destructive role of hate speech, especially when reproduced by elites, activists, and media figures. Zedoun contends that sweeping generalizations—such as accusing entire regions, sects, or communities of betrayal or disloyalty—constitute moral and political violence. In moments of extreme tension, words can escalate conflict as powerfully as actions. He repeatedly emphasizes that what matters is not only what is said, but how it is heard by the other side, calling on public figures to measure their language against the imperative of peace rather than rhetorical precision or political point-scoring.
Zedoun highlights initiatives of practical solidarity—such as efforts to deliver food, medicine, and humanitarian assistance across governorate lines—as examples of meaningful action that counter polarization. These acts, he argues, often go unrecognized because they do not align with dominant narratives of blame and antagonism, yet they are essential to preserving social bonds between communities like Daraa and Suwayda.
The interview also advances a strong defense of political and moral “centrism,” which Zedoun distinguishes from passivity or opportunism. He describes the erosion and demonization of the middle ground as one of Syria’s gravest dangers, arguing that societies without a credible center inevitably collapse into mutually destructive extremes. Dialogue—even with deeply distrusted actors—is presented not as moral compromise, but as a pragmatic necessity in a country exhausted by war, sanctions, and external interventions.
Ultimately, Zedoun calls for a shift away from moral absolutism, vengeance, and symbolic outrage toward humility, self-critique, and concrete peace-building actions. Whether through speech, silence, or direct assistance, he concludes, Syrians must prioritize social cohesion and human dignity if the country is to avert further self-destruction.
30 September 2025
Episode Title: النخب منغمسة في فجور الخصومة..درعا لم تخذل السويداء وتاريخ سوريا لم يشهد كراهية بهذا الاستقطاب
Interview Language: Arabic
Speaker: Zedoun Al Zoubi >
Moderator: Alaa Amer >
Header Photo
Children peaking from behind a barbed-wire fence in Syria, a stark visual metaphor for social fragmentation, inherited fear, and the human cost of polarization.. Photo © Abd Alrhman Al Darra - via Pexels. Link >