Rebuilding Syria: A Retrospective
Our first collection has wrapped up - for now.
As we launch these first seven episodes of Rebuilding Syria (Collection One of Evolve), we reflect on a season dedicated to storytelling, analysis, and imagination—charting Syria’s potential for a journey from dictatorship toward a pluralist renaissance. Over these episodes, host Jamil Khoury and the Polycultural Institute invited listeners to step beyond headlines and conflict, into Syria’s mosaic of communities, faiths, and futures.
From the House of Assad Falls to A United Syrian Federation
Our journey began with the dramatic fall of Assad, capturing the hopes—and tough realities—of Syria’s post-authoritarian moment. In “A Litany of No’s,” we explored the principles that powered Syria’s revolution: no to dictatorship, no to sectarian division, no to false moderation.
Part 1: The House Of Assad Falls (Released on May 3rd, running time 12:28)
Substack - Spotify - Apple Podcasts - YouTube
Part 2: A Litany Of No’s (Released on May 24th, running time 11:30)
Substack - Spotify - Apple Podcasts - YouTube
“In Defense of the Mosaic” moved us through reflection and renewal, spotlighting Syria’s diverse communities. We then examined the treacherous terrain of transitional leadership in “The New Guy In Charge.” The podcast confronted the ambiguities of change—how new power can still echo old wounds, and how only deep coalition-building can break the cycle.
Part 3: In Defense Of The Mosaic (Released on June 21st, running time 15:12)
Substack - Spotify - Apple Podcasts - YouTube
Part 4: The New Guy In Charge (Released on July 19th, running time 24:11)
Substack - Spotify - Apple Podcasts - YouTube
We probed sectarian violence and the myth of moderation in “Al Sharaa and Company Must Go,” and dove into the enduring legacy and promise of Eastern Christians in “A Cradle of Christianity”—not for nostalgia, but as essential to any future that is built on pluralism.
Part 5: Al-Sharaa & Company Must Go (Released on August 16th, running time 31:30)
Substack - Spotify - Apple Podcasts - YouTube
Part 6: A Cradle Of Christianity (Released on September 13th, running time 40:13)
Substack - Spotify - Apple Podcasts - YouTube
And finally, in the seventh episode, “United Syrian Federation,” we asked: what will it really take for Syrians to live together as equals, in a unified and free nation? This episode elevated visions of federal governance—a structure where communities safeguard their identities while binding together for the common good. It challenged listeners to imagine practical pluralism: coalition politics, local autonomy, and constitutional frames that make real coexistence possible, not just rhetorical.
Part 7: United Syrian Federation (Released on October 26th, running time 45:57)
Substack - Spotify - Apple Podcasts - YouTube
This first collection is rooted in the Institute’s mission: generating ideas to promote polyculturalism and coalition-building. It is also deeply rooted in Jamil’s Syrian American experience and personal commitment to rebuilding Syria’s mosaic.
What’s Next?
While Syria’s future remains uncertain, Collection One carries a message of constructive realism and hope: rebuilding begins with acknowledging the artistry and resilience within Syria’s diverse communities. The journey ahead demands sober clarity, coalitional vision, and a commitment to polyculturalism, heritage, and continuity.
But the highlight: Rebuilding Syria is not over!
We absolutely plan on continuing our conversations about Syria, but are currently moving towards establishing our second collection, The Re-Churching of America. But that doesn’t mean our Syrian story is anywhere near being done.
Thank you for listening, reflecting, and sharing questions about Syria’s new chapter post-Assad. We welcome your thoughts and look forward to continuing this evolving conversation.
Collection 1: Rebuilding Syria is produced by Polycultural Institute, the Think-and-Create Tank of Chicago’s Silk Road Cultural Center.
Subscribe to keep up with our next series, updates, and community events.
Listen to the full collection on Substack, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and Spotify. Share your reflections in the comments or email us directly to help shape Syria’s narrative.