In this episode of the Syria: Alternative Dialogues Podcast, we host Dr. Salam Said, an expert in political economy, to discuss the impact of neoliberal policies during conflicts, focusing on the Syrian context. The episode explores how these policies have contributed to deepening economic and social gaps in the region and their role in the economies of conflict.

This episode is the first in a series on neoliberalism, presented by the Syrian Center for Policy Research in collaboration with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung.
The episode begins with Dr. Salam’s impressions from her recent visit to Syria after several years of absence, where she describes a country suffering from a long history of social marginalization and repressive policies, exacerbated by the conflict and war. The episode also highlights the growing economic and social gaps between the centre and the peripheries.

In the first part, Dr. Salam outlines the historical context of the rise of neoliberal policies since the 1980s, explaining how Arab countries, despite their national development attempts post-independence, entered a path of economic and social erosion due to the liberalization of markets without adequate protection for local sectors. She demonstrates how unregulated privatization, weak institutions, and the state’s reliance on rent have all contributed to structural imbalances, which later erupted during the Arab uprisings.

The episode focuses on how neoliberal policies were exploited during conflicts to deepen the dependency of local economies on global centers, and how resources were looted through free-market tools that ostensibly supported development but, in reality, dismantled productive structures and increased reliance on external actors.

The episode also sheds light on how local and global powers have utilised these policies to strengthen their economic and social control at the expense of fair development. In her analysis of Syria, Dr. Salam examines how the economic policies followed after the conflict, especially the privatisation path and trade liberalisation without a stable economic infrastructure, contribute to entrenching social injustice and enhancing the fragility of both the state and society.

Dr. Salam also points out that more equitable development alternatives are already in place, inspired by global experiences, advocating for locally-driven productive policies based on innovation and self-investment, away from over-reliance on conditional international funding.
The episode concludes with a call for a critical reading of economic policies in the reconstruction phase, emphasizing that sustainable development requires deep political and social reforms that ensure justice, economic sovereignty, and the reliance on local capacities.

About the Guest:

Dr. Salam Said holds a Ph.D. in Economics and Social Sciences from the University of Bremen in Germany. She is the Project Director of “Towards Socially Just Economic Policies in the MENA Region” at Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung.

Her project focuses on shedding light on the social and economic impacts of the neoliberal agendas of the IMF and World Bank in the region, as well as exploring alternative developmental models based on progressive economic policies and feminist and intersectional approaches to the economy.

Dr. Salam has lectured at various German universities on Arab economies, neoliberal economic reforms, and social justice. Her research focuses on the Arab economy, socio-economic developments in the MENA region, economic reconstruction policies, and sanctions policies.

Most of her research has been published as policy papers and contributions to books.

Hosted by:
Rabie Nasser – Co-founder and researcher at the Syrian Center for Policy Research.

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