Security Provision and Good Governance in Post-War Syria: A Security Needs Assessment among the Syrian Diaspora in Germany

This security needs assessment aims to contribute to open access information on good governance and security sector reform in Syria. It was specifically designed to understand citizens’ needs and identify entry points for citizen-oriented security sector reform efforts. It analyses how the Syrian security system would need to change in order for Syrians to feel safe and secure in post-war Syria.

The survey’s online questionnaire consists of 63 questions in Modern Standard Arabic. Between March and August 2018, 619 Syrians living in Germany completed the questionnaire. They came from all 14 Syrian governorates. On average, participants were 29 years old (born in 1989).

Nora-Elise Beck and Lars Döbert designed and implemented this comprehensive security needs assessment. Its methodology and purpose are described in an introduction. The survey results are presented in a series of nine thematic working papers. This series has been reviewed by Barbara Mittelhammer. The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung financed and supported the publication of results.

Overview of all available papers

Introduction to the Survey and Sample Group Composition
Working Paper 1: Safe Spaces and Protection in Syria before and during the War
Working Paper 2: Insecurity and Injustice in Syria before and during the War
Working Paper 3: Assessing Security Providers in Syria before the War
Working Paper 4: Experiences with the Syrian Justice Sector before & during the War

Working Paper 5: Transparency of the Syrian Security Sector
Working Paper 6: General Notions of Ideal Security Provision
Working Paper 7: Envisioning a Future Security Sector for Syria
Working Paper 8: The Importance of the Justice System for Security Sector Reform in Syria
Working Paper 9: The Syrian Police

Introduction to the Survey and Sample Group Composition

This paper is the introduction to a series of nine working papers presenting the results of the survey. It explains the purpose of the survey and its methodology. Furthermore, it presents the sample group composition in terms of sex, age, religion, area of residence, and educational background.

Working Paper 1: Safe Spaces and Protection in Syria before and during the War

This working paper examines the elements of security and the environments in which survey participants felt safe and secure in Syria, both before and during the war. It also sheds light on the actors who provided protection to citizens before the outbreak of the war.

Working Paper 2: Insecurity and Injustice in Syria before and during the War

This working paper examines the most common and serious forms of insecurity and injustice before and during the war in Syria, comparing general perceptions with the personal experiences of Syrians who took part in this survey. It also looks at the
responsibility of state security actors and non-state armed groups for violence and repression.

Working Paper 3: Assessing Security Providers in Syria before the War

This working paper assesses the strengths and weaknesses of Syrian security providers before the war, and offers an overview of their most important deficits. Together with an analysis of citizens’ needs, this assessment is key to gaining a comprehensive picture of the security sector.

Working Paper 4: Experiences with the Syrian Justice Sector before and during the War

This working paper examines respondents’ knowledge regarding the various roles, processes, and structures of justice institutions in Syria. It also presents survey participants’ experiences with the most common and serious types of insecurity and injustice related to the justice sector, comparing general perceptions with personal experiences.

Working Paper 5: Transparency of the Syrian Security Sector

This working paper examines the importance of transparency for the provision of accountable and citizen-oriented security. Furthermore, it presents
the awareness and knowledge of participants regarding the different roles, processes, and structures of security providers in Syria.

Working Paper 6: General Notions of Ideal Security Provision

This working paper examines conditions for ideal security provision and the most important elements of functioning security sectors from a citizen-centred perspective. It also examines whether survey participants would resort to state insti-tutions for help in the event of danger, and their potential motivations for doing so.

Working Paper 7: Envisioning a Future Security Sector for Syria

This working paper examines the criteria and characteristics that define the functionality of a security sector from a citizen-centred perspective. Furthermore, it presents the expectations of Syrians
towards the structure and principles of the post-war Syrian security sector, as well as the role of civilian actors within it.

Working Paper 8: The Importance of the Justice System for Security Sector Reform in Syria

This working paper presents the relevance of the justice sector for the provision of accountable and citizen-oriented security, as well as for any meaningful process of future security sector reform.

Working Paper 9: The Syrian Police

This working paper presents survey results regarding the Syrian police. It focuses on respondents’ knowledge of the police’s roles and responsibilities before the war and explores how they assess the police forces’ position within the security sector and their involvement in state repression.