PUBLICATIONS
We disseminate the results of our work as broadly as possible to benefit the public good. The publications featured in this section are available as free downloads, and are developed by our experts pre and post joining LUGARIT, dating back to the early 2000s.
Date: September 2024
Publishers: Duderi e.V, EuroMed Feminist Initiative, LUGARIT
A policy paper outlines the role of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Syria's education sector, emphasizing the need for long-term sustainability and scalability. It highlights challenges in teacher retention, localization, and fragmented efforts, and offers recommendations for enhancing collaboration, leveraging local resources, and supporting formal education for broader impact.
Date: August 2024
Publishers: Duderi e.V, EuroMed Feminist Initiative, LUGARIT
A research explores the role of civil society organizations (CSOs) in providing educational services amid Syria’s conflict. It highlights how CSOs address gaps in education through non-formal programs, despite facing challenges such as limited resources, short-term funding, and complex interactions with local authorities and de facto powers.
Date: June 2024
Publisher: Friends of Aleppo
A chapter in the yearbook “Aleppo Journal 2023” emphasizes the need for realistic economic strategies that balance heritage preservation with economic viability to rehabilitate the historic core of Aleppo. It proposes demand-side investments to empower residents and offset the externalities of supply-side investments. Leveraging local resources incrementally and adopting a new spatial approach should replace the old Development Plan.
Date: March 2024
Publisher: Omran Center for Strategic Studies
A policy paper investigates the role of Syria's administrative-territorial divisions in shaping local and national identities. It highlights how the government's manipulation of these divisions fostered divergent local identities and conflict, contrary to its aim of unifying national identity. The study reveals that strong local identities can complement national identity, challenging the notion that they are inherently divisive.
Date: May 2023
Publisher: EU - European Union
A Roadmap outlines strategies for EU collaboration with Syrian CSOs, focusing on their historical evolution, community legitimacy, legal challenges, and donor relations. It emphasizes the need for inclusive, sustainable approaches, and highlights four priority areas: representation, democracy, public wellbeing, and self-constitution.
Date: April 2023
Publisher: Baytna
A research report examines the divisions within Syrian civil society organizations, identifying three main types: territorial, socio-political, and organizational. It highlights the challenges in bridging these divides due to limited cross-territorial dialogue and varying relationships across different control areas. The research suggests paths for cohesion despite complex barriers and varying levels of communication among CSOs.
Date: September 2022
Publisher: LSE - London School of Economics
A research report investigates the complex history of Syria's administrative divisions post-independence, examining political, economic, and social factors influencing the creation and renaming of governorates. It highlights how demographic, service, and political motives, including centralization and regional influences, shaped these changes, with specific case studies illustrating broader trends.
Date: July 2021
Publisher: UN Women
A research report explores gender equality and women's rights in Syria, examining perceptions and realities in different regions. It identifies 8 key areas like security, legal rights, and social norms, revealing disparities in gender equality. Findings suggest internalization of inequalities and a shift towards women's public roles, offering insights for future support programs.
Date: June 2021
Publisher: GCSP – Geneva Center for Security Policy
A research project report on Syria's political economy highlights the ineffectiveness of externally induced political transitions and sanctions, emphasizing the need for local empowerment and fiscal decentralization. It underscores the importance of shifting from top-down aid approaches to sustainable, community-based strategies to reform Syria's entrenched political and economic systems.
Date: February 2021
Publisher: Prindex
A paper examines the relevance of Prindex survey findings for the land governance in the Arab region. It shows the region has one of the highest rates of tenure insecurity in the world. It also highlights what shapes perceptions and how they, particularly among young adults, urban renters, and women, contribute to land governance challenges.
Date: November 2020
Publisher: Omran
A paper examines the relevance of Prindex survey findings for the land governance in the Arab region. It shows the region has one of the highest rates of tenure insecurity in the world. It also highlights what shapes perceptions and how they, particularly among young adults, urban renters, and women, contribute to land governance challenges.
Date: November 2019
Publisher: Friedrich Ebert Stiftung
A research report examines health governance in Syria's opposition-held areas, highlighting the shift from government to grassroots organizations post-2011 conflict. It reveals the effectiveness of bottom-up approaches over top-down models in state-building and emphasizes the importance of coordinated efforts among local actors, NGOs, and donors for sustainable health governance.
Date: March 2019
Publisher: LSE – London School of Economics
Summary of 2 presentations at the LSE conference highlight the complexities of property rights and urban planning laws in post-conflict Syria, emphasizing the challenges in housing and land management, and discussing the political economy of local elections, noting their role in reinforcing the regime's patronage network, rather than promoting fair representation or democracy.
Date: October 2017
Publisher: Syrian Echoes, funded by the European Union
A report analyses Syria's complex urban housing crisis, highlighting the impact of traditional land tenure systems and rapid urbanization. It emphasizes the role of property rights in the conflict and post-conflict reconstruction, underscoring the need for fair housing policies and legal reforms, especially to support vulnerable groups like women.
Date: April 2017
Publisher: Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland
A paper examines land conflicts in Myanmar and Syria, highlighting their role in broader societal issues and conflicts. It advocates for a systemic approach in national dialogues and peace agreements, emphasizing the use of existing legal frameworks and the development of new legislation and local reconciliation infrastructures.
Date: March 2017
Publisher: New England Journal of Public Policy
An article analyses the evolving geopolitical landscape in Syria post-Vienna Accords and UN Security Council Resolution 2254. It highlights the challenges in resolving the conflict, emphasizing new geographic realities and governance structures. The focus is on how territorial control by various actors has fostered radicalization, impacting the Geneva process.
Date: March 2017
Publisher: Citizens For Syria
A research study analyzes Syrian CSOs, focusing on their structure, roles, and challenges in the Syrian socio-political context. It assesses their operational dynamics, financial aspects, and impact on society, highlighting the complexities and constraints these organizations face in a turbulent environment.
Date: November 2015
Publisher: PLATFORMA
A paper examines decentralisation in the Mashrek region, focusing on its impact on local development, democratic change, and social cohesion. It reviews various approaches to decentralisation, analyzes the influence of European policies, and offers broad recommendations for future aid. The paper aims to foster dialogue and re-evaluate local accountability in development.
Date: October 2015
Publisher: NOREF
An article examines the challenges faced by Syrian medical NGOs during the crisis, highlighting issues like organizational weaknesses, dependency on donors, logistical and security challenges, and maintaining neutrality amidst severe violence and deteriorating public health services. It underscores the need for skill enhancement and strategic planning.
Date: September 2015
Publisher: Lebanese Center for Policy Studies
A chapter on Yemen in a book titled "Local Governments and Public Goods" examines the country's unique decentralization journey. Influenced by tribal dynamics, colonial history, and unification challenges, Yemen's approach blends traditional loyalties and modern governance structures, highlighting the complexities and gradual evolution of its decentralized system.
Date: May 2015
Publisher: Clingendael & NOREF
A paper examines how Syria's conflict has created a war economy, where warlords and groups like ISIS finance their operations through illicit activities. This economic dynamic undermines peace efforts, suggesting a need for strategies beyond political arrangements to address war profiteering and rebuild livelihoods.
Date: 2015
Publisher: Patronato de la Alhambra y Generalife
A chapter in book, about conservation and cultural management in world heritage sites, explores the economic effects of public funding in urban heritage conservation. It critically examines how these subsidies influence heritage management and conservation efforts, emphasizing the need for sustainable and community-focused approaches in preserving cultural landmarks and landscapes.
Date: 2015
Publisher: Routledge
A Chapter in the book "Urban Design in the Arab World" critiques post-colonial urban design in Arab-Muslim societies, focusing on the role of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture. It highlights the struggle between national, ethno-religious identities and local needs in urban planning, emphasizing a trend towards symbolic, idealized representations over community-focused, replicable designs.
Date: November 2013
Publisher: Oxfam
A study analyzes the livelihoods of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, highlighting their economic struggles, employment challenges, and social conditions. It reveals low income, high debt, limited job opportunities, and educational barriers, alongside concerns about safety, discrimination, and uncertain futures. The research underscores the need for continued support for these refugees.
Date: April 2014
Publisher: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland
A paper provides a detailed analysis of the Syrian conflict, emphasizing its complexity and the importance of understanding diverse local and historical factors. It highlights the need for a nuanced approach involving Syrian stakeholders for effective peacebuilding, considering the interplay of various social, political, and economic forces.
Date: March 2014
Publisher: BRIC - Beirut Research and Innovation Center
A study reveals diverse perceptions of security threats in Lebanon due to Syrian refugees. Key findings include variations in threat perceptions by location, influenced by factors like gender, age, and political affiliations. There's a general increase in security concerns, with different perceptions on crime types, job competition, and cultural threats. Media and political narratives significantly influence these perceptions, highlighting the complexity of this issue.
Date: 2013
Publisher: Aga Khan Award for Architecture, Lars Muller Publishers
A chapter in the book "Architecture is Life" critically examines the sustainability of traditional building crafts in the modern world. It explores the economic, social, and cultural challenges faced by craftsmanship, emphasizing the need for adaptability, innovation, and a reevaluation of its value beyond mere heritage preservation.
Date: 2011
Publisher: Aga Khan Award for Architecture, Lars Muller Publishers
2 Essays in the book "Implicate & Explicate" discuss the Aga Khan Award for Architecture’s influence in advocating ethical architecture and broadening the understanding of Muslim cultural practices. The essays emphasize the need for broader ethical debates in the field, showcasing the Award's role in highlighting diverse, innovative architectural solutions in the Muslim world.
Date: 2007
Publisher: Geuthner
A chapter in "États et Sociétés de l’orient arabe" critically examines the valuation of urban heritage in Aleppo, Syria, and Shibam, Yemen. We explore the ethical implications of heritage conservation funding, the impact of urban renewal and development policies, and the challenges of integrating cultural and economic values in preserving historic cities.
Date: 2006
Publisher: AUB - American University of Beirut
A chapter in the book "Urban Heritage and The Politics of The Present" examines the complex challenges in conserving urban heritage in Aleppo and Shibam, highlighting the interplay of economic, social, and cultural factors. It explores the impact of public interventions and market conditions on heritage preservation and the evolution of urban spaces and social values.
Date: 2003
Publisher: Trialog
An article in Trialog journal discusses the revitalization of Shibam, Yemen, focusing on preserving its unique architectural heritage while promoting economic and social development. The Shibam Urban Development Project, a Yemeni-German program initiated by the GIZ, emphasizes community involvement, technical and financial support for building restoration, and leveraging tourism for sustainable urban rehabilitation.
Date: January 2000
Publisher: Verlag Philipp von Zabern
5 essays for the book “Damascus - Aleppo 5000 years” collectively explore Aleppo's urban and architectural history, emphasizing rehabilitation, Islamic philanthropy, historical healthcare institutions, Ottoman architectural influence, and the Mamluk era's socio-political impact.
Date: 1998
Publisher: GIZ - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit
A plan for revitalizing and preserving Aleppo’s historical essence while accommodating modern growth. It balances urban renewal with heritage conservation, emphasizing improved infrastructure, sustainable economic development, environmental management, and traffic management. The plan integrates strategic zoning, action area planning, and community involvement.