A Vision on Social Security and Social Protection under Neoliberal Policies
Episode 17 – July 31, 2025
In this episode of Syria: Alternative Dialogues podcast, we discuss the impact of neoliberal policies on social security in Syria amidst the severe economic deterioration that has accumulated over years of conflict. Rabie Nasser hosts economist Zaki Mehchy in a conversation exploring the transformations in the concept of social protection, the intersection of neoliberalism and authoritarianism, and the impact of privatization and subsidy removal on the most marginalized groups.
The episode also addresses the role of civil society and international organizations in filling the vacuum left by the state, highlighting issues of funding, social inequality, and the emergence of crony capitalism. We shed light on the challenges facing the construction of an alternative, sustainable economic model focused on social justice, local production, and participatory approaches, while calling for an active role for Syrians both inside and outside the country.
About the guest:
Zaki Mehchy is a researcher at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) with the Syria Program. He is a co-founder of the Syrian Center for Policy Research (SCPR). His research interests focus on development policies, poverty, and multidimensional deprivation, in addition to analyzing the economic and social impacts of the Syrian conflict.
He holds an MSc in International Economics from the University of Essex (UK) and a diploma in International Economic Relations from the University of Damascus.
Host: Rabie Nasser, researcher and co-founder of the Syrian Center for Policy Research.
Episode preparation and coordination: Reem Takriti
Produced by the Syrian Center for Policy Research (SCPR) in collaboration with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES).
Publications by Zaki Mehchy:
– Capturing Sources of Health System Legitimacy in Fragmented Conflict Zones: A Case Study of Northwest Syria. Globalization and Health 2024Munzer Alkhalil, Rim Turkmani, Mazen Gharibah، Zaki Mehchy
https://globalizationandhealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12992-024-01074-4
– Assessing Control and Power Dynamics in Syria
Research Paper, Middle East and North Africa Programme
Zaki Mehchy, Haid Haid and Lina Khatib
https://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/default/files/2020-11/2020-11-11-control-power-syria-mehchy-haid-khatib_0.pdf
– Syria’s Economic Crossroads: Inclusive Recovery or Inevitable Collapse – Zaki Mehchy
https://peacerep.org/2025/03/27/syrias-economic-crossroads-inclusive-recovery-or-inevitable-collapse
– Syria’s Economic Transition: From Kleptocracy to Islamic Neoliberalism, 13 Feb 2025. Joseph Daher and Zaki Mehchy.
https://peacerep.org/publication/syrias-economic-transition
– Structured Chaos: how nonprofits in conflict settings became an economic sector,
https://impactres.org/reports/Structured_Chaos-how_nonprofits_in_conflict_settings_became_an_economic_sector-Report_2_EN.pdf
https://impactres.org/economics-of-nonprofit
– Punishing the Regime, Protecting Syrians: The Dilemma of Sanctions on Syria
https://www.arab-reform.net/publication/punishing-the-regime-protecting-syrians-the-dilemma-of-sanctions-on-syria
– Role of economic Factors in Political Movement: The Syrian Case (2012)
https://scpr-syria.org/publications/role-of-economic-factors-in-political-movement-the-syrian-case-2012
Categories: Human Empowerment, Podcast
Previous and Next Episodes:
Keep listening to our podcasts, and discover more from “Syria; Alternative Dialogues” by following us on Spotify.
Podcast
A Vision on Social Security and Social Protection under Neoliberal Policies
Episode 17 – July 31, 2025
A Vision on Social Security and Social Protection under Neoliberal Policies
Episode 17 – July 31, 2025
– Episode in Arabic
In this episode of Syria: Alternative Dialogues podcast, we discuss the impact of neoliberal policies on social security in Syria amidst the severe economic deterioration that has accumulated over years of conflict. Rabie Nasser hosts economist Zaki Mehchy in a conversation exploring the transformations in the concept of social protection, the intersection of neoliberalism and authoritarianism, and the impact of privatization and subsidy removal on the most marginalized groups.
The episode also addresses the role of civil society and international organizations in filling the vacuum left by the state, highlighting issues of funding, social inequality, and the emergence of crony capitalism. We shed light on the challenges facing the construction of an alternative, sustainable economic model focused on social justice, local production, and participatory approaches, while calling for an active role for Syrians both inside and outside the country.
About the guest:
Zaki Mehchy is a researcher at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) with the Syria Program. He is a co-founder of the Syrian Center for Policy Research (SCPR). His research interests focus on development policies, poverty, and multidimensional deprivation, in addition to analyzing the economic and social impacts of the Syrian conflict.
He holds an MSc in International Economics from the University of Essex (UK) and a diploma in International Economic Relations from the University of Damascus.
Host: Rabie Nasser, researcher and co-founder of the Syrian Center for Policy Research.
Episode preparation and coordination: Reem Takriti
Produced by the Syrian Center for Policy Research (SCPR) in collaboration with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES).
Publications by Zaki Mehchy:
– Capturing Sources of Health System Legitimacy in Fragmented Conflict Zones: A Case Study of Northwest Syria. Globalization and Health 2024Munzer Alkhalil, Rim Turkmani, Mazen Gharibah، Zaki Mehchy
https://globalizationandhealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12992-024-01074-4
– Assessing Control and Power Dynamics in Syria
Research Paper, Middle East and North Africa Programme
Zaki Mehchy, Haid Haid and Lina Khatib
https://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/default/files/2020-11/2020-11-11-control-power-syria-mehchy-haid-khatib_0.pdf
– Syria’s Economic Crossroads: Inclusive Recovery or Inevitable Collapse – Zaki Mehchy
https://peacerep.org/2025/03/27/syrias-economic-crossroads-inclusive-recovery-or-inevitable-collapse
– Syria’s Economic Transition: From Kleptocracy to Islamic Neoliberalism, 13 Feb 2025. Joseph Daher and Zaki Mehchy.
https://peacerep.org/publication/syrias-economic-transition
– Structured Chaos: how nonprofits in conflict settings became an economic sector,
https://impactres.org/reports/Structured_Chaos-how_nonprofits_in_conflict_settings_became_an_economic_sector-Report_2_EN.pdf
https://impactres.org/economics-of-nonprofit
– Punishing the Regime, Protecting Syrians: The Dilemma of Sanctions on Syria
https://www.arab-reform.net/publication/punishing-the-regime-protecting-syrians-the-dilemma-of-sanctions-on-syria
– Role of economic Factors in Political Movement: The Syrian Case (2012)
https://scpr-syria.org/publications/role-of-economic-factors-in-political-movement-the-syrian-case-2012
Categories: Human Empowerment, Podcast
Previous and Next Episodes:
Keep listening to our podcasts, and discover more from “Syria; Alternative Dialogues” by following us on Spotify.
