Constructing the Reconstruction Process: a Smooth Transition Towards Knowledge Society and Economy in Post-Conflict Syria

Reconstruction in post-conflict countries is essential for determining the future shape of economic and social development in those countries. The aim of this study is to formulate a new approach for a reconstruction process oriented towards building a knowledge-based economy. We measure how the Syrian conflict harms knowledge, human, and innovation indicators as the first step in formulating the reconstruction strategy. Hence, the synthetic control method (SCM) and documentary research method (DSM) are used to identify the conflict's impact on a set of knowledge output variables as well as human development and global innovation indices in Syria. Results indicate that the Syrian conflict had a significant impact on social and economic indicators, as well as on knowledge outputs indicators. However, the greatest impact was on the level of the Human Development Index, where Syria has lost 23.3 years of development in the first 4 years of the conflict. The results also suggested that Syria has lost 20 positions at the level of the Global Innovation Index. Based on those findings, we propose a novel approach for reconstruction in Syria based on non-classical intervention policies that make the reconstruction process a tool oriented towards building a knowledge-based economy.