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Opinion

Despite Obvious Islamization, Syria’s al-Sharaa Struggles to Maintain a Veneer of Secular Legitimacy

Despite Obvious Islamization, Syria’s al-Sharaa Struggles to Maintain a Veneer of Secular Legitimacy
Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known by the nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, speaks at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, Syria, on Dec. 8, 2024. The Canadian Press/AP/Omar Albam
Antonio Graceffo
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Commentary

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa faces a core contradiction: He depends on Western legitimacy, yet his power base consists of former jihadists who view moderation as apostasy.

Antonio Graceffo
Antonio Graceffo
Author
Antonio Graceffo, Ph.D., is a China economy analyst who has spent more than 20 years in Asia. Graceffo is a graduate of the Shanghai University of Sport, holds an MBA from Shanghai Jiaotong University, and studied national security at American Military University.