LUGARIT’s Partner Spearheads Decentralization Discussion at Swiss Peace Course

26 October 2023  -  Basel, Switzerland

Omar Abdulaziz Hallaj, a Partner at LUGARIT, recently led an engaging session in the annual course on Peacebuilding & Institutional Reforms, organized by Swiss Peace; a peace research institute, based in Basel, Switzerland. This course brought together a diverse group of participants to explore approaches to institutional reform in (post-)conflict contexts and the conditions under which they can contribute to sustainable peace.

During his sessions, Mr. Hallaj delved into the core modalities and building blocks of decentralization, including the various types such as delegation, deconcentration, and devolution, alongside fiscal decentralization. He emphasized the importance of these elements as foundational in designing decentralized systems, providing a comprehensive understanding to the participants. 

The course also included a practical exercise on decentralization, where participants critically analyzed the lessons learned from Syria and other cases, reflecting on how these insights could be applied to their current contexts. This exercise highlighted the complexities and varied outcomes of decentralization efforts in promoting peace, drawing on real-world examples to enhance understanding.

Additionally, Aziz facilitated a plenary discussion focusing on whether decentralization reforms invariably promote peace. This discussion allowed participants to contemplate the multifaceted nature of decentralization and its implications for peacebuilding in different geopolitical contexts.

Mr. Hallaj’s presentations provided an in-depth case study of Syria post-civil war, illustrating the disparities of development, the urban-rural divide, and the highly centralized political system that existed. It covered the five zones of control and the seven different governance models implemented in Syria, along with dozens of variations on these models.

Moreover, the course included a simulation exercise that engaged participants in exploring the interests of various stakeholders in the Syrian context, such as Turkey, Iran, Russia, the USA, the Syrian Government, Kurdish Dominated SDF, and HTS in Idleb. This exercise challenged participants to research the interests of the stakeholder they were simulating, select their stance on discussed issues, and describe the decentralization model they would accept as a result of long-term indirect negotiations.

Mr. Hallaj’s sessions at Swiss Peace's course provided a nuanced and comprehensive understanding of decentralization in post-conflict settings, emphasizing the importance of critical analysis and contextual application in peacebuilding and institutional reforms.

Header Photo

A banner in a protest saying "Paper (meaning ballot papers) beat rocks (meaning violence)".  2017.  Photo © Lobroart - via ShutterStock.  Link >

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