Abstract
Since the 1990s, NGO regulations in Syria have been relaxed, leading to increased activity, particularly in the 2000s. However, many NGOs were founded by government officials or individuals closely associated with the regime, thus rendering the relationship between NGOs and the government a primary area of interest. Consequently, several Syrian NGOs are regarded as government-organized NGOs (GONGOs) and are perceived as financially supporting the government while lacking autonomy, especially since the 2011 conflict. These roles in the economic and social spheres remain underexplored. This study examines the political nature of NGO activities during the conflict, focusing on the economic and social roles of the Syrian Trust for Development from 2014–2016, which was a period of intense conflict. The study employs analytical approaches that include analyzing the trend of NGO’s activities from a geographical and sectoral perspective and discussing their characteristics through a comparison with the definition and functional classification of NGOs. This study reviews previous NGO research, the legal environment in Syria, and conducts a case analysis of the Syria Trust for Development. The conclusion indicates that the NGOs have contributed to economic and social reconstruction while supporting the governance system by alleviating public discontent and co-opting civilians.
