Assad's regime
Which family ruled Syria for roughly five decades?
Which religious group makes up the majority of Syria's population?
Sunni Muslims.
What major political event marks the beginning of post-Assad Syria?
The fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime.
What ideology sought to unite Arabs across the Middle East under a common political identity?
Baathism.
What type of justice does the author discuss for post-Assad Syria?
Transitional justice.
According to the paper, what percentage of the Syrian army's officer corps was made up of Alawites?
Against which part of the population were many of the regime's most devastating bombings, massacres, and sieges concentrated?
The Sunni population
Who became Syria's new president after Assad's fall?
Ahmed al-Sharaa.
What was one of Baathism's main goals for Syrian society?
To promote Arab unity.
Which famous post-World War II trials are cited as a possible model for confronting perpetrators?
The Nuremberg Trials
What was the name of the pro-regime militia network that originated in smuggling and criminal activities?
The shabbiha
Which religious group is most frequently discussed in the article regarding accusations of collective responsibility?
The Alawites
What type of violence does the author warn could continue after Assad's fall?
Revenge-driven and sectarian violence.
Did Baathism seek to organize politics around religion or Arab nationalism?
Arab nationalism
Besides justice, what does the author identify as necessary for stability?
Security
Which elite military unit commanded by Maher al-Assad became infamous during the Syrian civil war?
The Fourth Division.
Did sectarian tensions disappear under Assad or remain beneath the surface?
They remained beneath the surface.
Which two countries are attempting to exploit communal tensions in Syria?
Iran and Israel.
What criticism does Karakas make of Baathist policies toward sectarianism?
Concealing sectarian tensions instead of solving them
What must be avoided if Syria is to prevent a new cycle of conflict?
Collective blame and revenge.
Why did the regime encourage the perception that the Assad family's fate and the Alawite community's fate were linked?
To strengthen loyalty between the Alawites and the regime
What concept describes blaming an entire community for the actions of some of its members?
Collective guilt.
In March 2025, which coastal governorates experienced major massacres?
Latakia, Tartus, and Hama.
Why does Karakas believe the Baathist approach ultimately failed to create social cohesion?
What is Karakas' main hope for Syria's future?
A pluralistic, inclusive, and de-sectarianized society