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Azmi Bishara, the General Director of the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, has emphasised that the primary task for Syrians today is to preserve state institutions while building a new political system.

He predicted that the Syrian event, referring to the Syrian people's overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime without foreign intervention, would influence Arab public opinion. Bishara envisioned a democratic, independent, institutionalised, and prosperous Syria that could redefine the Levant's relationship with the West and even Israel.

In an exclusive interview with Al-Araby TV from Lusail, Qatar, on Sunday, Bishara stressed that avoiding the fates of Libya and Iraq depends on public awareness and a firm rejection of sectarianism and quotas as the foundation for a new political system and constitution. He advised against rushing into elections prematurely, warning that if elections were held before the conditions were adequately prepared, they could deepen social fractures and facilitate sectarian and regional polarization.

Bishara described dismantling the army, should it happen, as a fatal mistake, arguing that "dismantling it means dismantling Syria". Instead, he advocated reforming the military and its leadership rather than dissolving it, as happened in Iraq. He also praised the behaviour of armed factions so far, expressing confidence in forming a unified military leadership that could become the foundation for a transitional military council, leading to a unified Syrian army without militias in the future.

Acknowledging the armed factions' critical role in safeguarding the transition, Bishara described the process as arduous. The prominent Arab intellectual, a supporter of the Syrian revolution since its inception 14 years ago, underscored the need to blend justice and accountability with reconciliation. He also highlighted the importance of retaining existing technocrats and professionals in state institutions while integrating new opposition-aligned expertise after Assad's regime fell.

He cautioned that people need basic services and daily necessities managed efficiently, warning that chaos is Syria’s greatest enemy today. Bishara emphasised that daily governance should be handled by existing bureaucrats without waiting for foreign intervention to organize Syrians’ lives.

On this issue, he pointed out that current forces must convene a national assembly to draft a new constitution. Until then, an interim government might be necessary, a model seen in other countries with similar circumstances, provided there is the political will and abandonment of vengeful or narrow-minded rivalries. He criticised behaviours that prioritise personal or factional interests over national responsibility.

In transitional phases, Bishara acknowledged that "problems and shortages will arise, but patience is essential. Not every issue should trigger protests". He urged Syrians to shift from a revolutionary mindset to one rooted in democracy and citizenship, asserting that Syrians do not wish to replace one form of tyranny with another.

Bishara suggested that Syria's new leaders should reassure neighbouring countries and the international community that their sole agenda was sovereignty and democratic governance. He argued that allies of Syria’s future rulers, as well as those of the Assad regime, should recognize that a free and sovereign Syria is the only guarantee for lasting friendships. He warned that chaos and conflict are the worst outcomes for Syria's neighbours.

When asked about the feasibility of this vision, Bishara asserted that the Syrian people's awareness is the only guarantee of its realization. He noted that Syrians had demonstrated this awareness by liberating their country from Assad’s regime without foreign intervention - a significant contrast to Iraq and Libya. He reminded the audience that much of the world had resigned itself to Assad’s permanence, as the international community often surrenders to the strong. However, he acknowledged that Qatar and Turkey remained steadfast supporters of the Syrian revolution.

Regarding the future social contract among Syrians, Bishara explained that drafting a new constitution to govern state institutions could emerge through national assemblies representing all factions. Such assemblies would foster compromises and agreements, which, far from being flaws, are essential steps. This process would pave the way for accountability, justice, and reconciliation, provided that institutions capable of enforcing these principles are established.

Bishara emphasised the critical role of Syria’s vast pool of professionals in rebuilding the country. He proposed a transitional government and a national assembly as platforms for drafting the constitution. Currently, he observed, Syria has a civil administration but lacks political leadership, which should be formed, perhaps under a transitional government.

On the transitional phase, Bishara stressed the inclusion of forces that supported the previous regime, maintaining the current government for daily management in the meantime. He acknowledged the complexity of issues such as managing eastern Syria and the coastal regions, advocating for dialogue rather than force to resolve them. Bishara emphasised civilian management of these areas until a new system emerges, asserting that there are no minorities in Syria - only equal citizens.

Bishara described the regime’s downfall as "a historic day, a glorious moment, and a starting point for a new chapter in Syria's history", ending 50 years of authoritarianism and a particularly violent decade sustained artificially by Russian and Iranian support. He concluded by highlighting the regime’s hollowness, as evidenced by its swift collapse.