Navigating Uncertainty in the Middle East (II): The Case for Interim Constitutions in Syria and Palestine

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Program at Sciences Po, in collaboration with the Sciences Po Law School and partnership with the constitutional law and democracy research unit at An-Najah National University and Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, convenes for the second year a two-day intensive training, to be held on May 28–29, 2026, at Sciences Po Paris. Focusing on Syria and Palestine, the program examines how interim constitutional frameworks operate under conditions of war, contested sovereignty, and ongoing transformations – and what these reveal about the possibilities and limits of political transition in the contemporary Middle East.

At a moment when the region is being reshaped by shifting geopolitical alignments, the question of how political order is constituted has become increasingly urgent. The ongoing war in the Middle East has intensified regional instability, reconfigured power relations, and altered the conditions under which governance is exercised. In such a context, constitutional processes cannot be approached as neutral or purely technical exercises; rather, they are embedded in asymmetries of power, external intervention, and unresolved struggles over legitimacy and authority.

The training will open with a focused panel that situates Syria and Palestine within these broader regional dynamics. It will examine how current developments are affecting regional stability and reshaping the political environments in which constitutional processes unfold. Attention will be given to what these transformations mean for leadership trajectories and governance pathways in both contexts, as well as to the evolving role of political Islamist movements. The panel will also address how political and constitutional horizons have been redefined by ongoing conflict, fragmentation, and regional realignments.

Within this framework, interim constitutions emerge as both instruments and arenas of political contestation. While often framed as mechanisms to guide transition and stabilize governance, they may also entrench uncertainty or reproduce existing power structures. The program therefore seeks to critically assess whether such frameworks can function as genuine pathways toward sustainable political order, or whether they risk prolonging transitional conditions indefinitely.

Overview

In Syria, a seven-member constitutional committee, established following the Syrian National Conference, has been tasked with drafting a transitional charter. On March 13, 2025, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa approved an interim constitutional declaration intended to guide Syria’s governance over the next five years. Emerging from the legacies of civil war, foreign occupation, sanctions, and internal fragmentation, the declaration outlines a vision for state-building. However, both its credibility and its potential for implementation remain uncertain. A critical question thus arises: will this transitional declaration serve as a bridge toward a permanent constitution, or is it being positioned as a mechanism to prolong interim arrangements indefinitely? 

In August 2025, the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas appointed a committee to draft an Interim Constitution for the State of Palestine. The initiative seeks to lay the institutional groundwork for post-war elections and to guide the transition from authority to statehood. A first draft of the text was submitted in February 2026. An interactive platform was created to receive public consultation for the preparation of a referendum. The promise and constraints of the emerging Interim Constitution – particularly in light of the ongoing realities of war and occupation – will be assessed. 

Training Objectives

By the end of the program, participants will:

• Understand the Role of Interim Constitutions: Analyze how temporary constitutional frameworks should assist political transitions and mitigate legal vacuums.
• Assess Contemporary Political Developments: Examine how governance agreements, elections, and constitutional negotiations shape political stability in Syria and Palestine.
• Draw Lessons from Comparative Case Studies: Investigate transitional governance experiences from other regions to inform best practices.
• Enhance Practical Skills: Develop expertise in constitutional bargaining and governance assessments in post-war contexts.

Course Delivery: In-person.
Maximum Participants: 12 students.