The Curious Case of Syria's 'New' Cultural Shift
Al-Monitor, with a straight face, informs us that Sayyid Qutb's 'Milestones' — a text that would, in the recently deposed Assad era, land you 'in jail or worse' — is now 'on prominent display and selling well.' This, apparently, signifies 'deep changes' in Syria since its 'nominally secular order was overthrown by Islamist rebels led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa.' Curious, isn't it? Here's the rub
that article conveniently sidesteps: Case A: Syria's 'New' Embrace of Islamist Thought and 'Moderate' Kurds The Narrative: The current Syrian administration, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa and originating from the rebranded Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), is presenting itself as a reformed, inclusive entity. Featuring Sayyid Qutb, a foundational figure of modern Sunni Islamist movements, at a national book
fair is packaged as a signal of openness and a departure from the strictures of the Assad regime. The Framing (Al-Monitor): "[...] the title by the radical Islamist ideologue was on prominent display and selling well." and "[...] its nominally secular order was overthrown by Islamist rebels led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa." The Subtext: This framing suggests a genuine shift towards intellectual
freedom and a more diverse public discourse, implying the new leadership is less repressive, at least ideologically, than its predecessor. The inclusion of 'Kurdish culture' is likewise presented as a nod to minority rights and cultural recognition. Case B: The American-Backed 'Democracy' in Afghanistan (Post-2001) The Parallel: Following the 2001 US invasion of Afghanistan, the narrative was that