A new investigative podcast series from The Guardian has turned its focus to the enduring and complex legacy of the Assad family in Syria. Titled "What the Assads Did Next," the series delves into the political and economic landscape of the country following the devastating civil war, exploring how the ruling clan has consolidated its power.
The Assad Dynasty's Firm Grip on Post-Conflict Syria
The podcast, released in January 2026, examines the current state of Syria under the leadership of Bashar al-Assad, who has remained president despite over a decade of conflict. It investigates the mechanisms through which the regime has not only survived but has worked to re-establish its authority. A key figure in this analysis is Maher al-Assad, the president's brother, who commands the powerful Republican Guard and is considered a central pillar of the family's security apparatus.
The narrative details how, after the peak of the fighting subsided, the family and its inner circle moved to control key sectors of the shattered economy. This includes reconstruction projects, lucrative business deals, and the strategic distribution of resources, which critics argue benefits loyalists and exacerbates the suffering of ordinary Syrians.
Business, Sanctions, and International Isolation
The series explores the challenges the Assad regime faces from international sanctions, imposed by countries including the United Kingdom, United States, and European Union. These measures are designed to limit the regime's access to the global financial system and curb its ability to profit from reconstruction. However, the podcast investigates the workarounds and networks that have allegedly been established to bypass these restrictions.
It sheds light on how business interests, both inside Syria and with external actors in regions less aligned with Western policy, have become intertwined with political survival. The discussion covers the difficult position of neighbouring countries and the broader international community, grappling with the humanitarian crisis while attempting to hold the regime accountable for wartime atrocities.
Legacy of Conflict and the Path Ahead
Finally, the podcast confronts the profound human cost of the war and the ongoing crisis. It touches on the millions of refugees displaced outside Syria's borders and the millions more internally displaced, living in precarious conditions. The series questions what future lies ahead for a nation still deeply fractured, with its leadership entrenched and facing minimal domestic political opposition.
The investigation presents a sobering picture of a nation where the conclusion of major combat operations has not led to freedom or accountability, but rather to a consolidation of the pre-war power structure. The Assad family's next moves, as analysed in the podcast, continue to shape the destiny of Syria and present a persistent challenge to global diplomacy and human rights advocacy.
