War by Other Means
Postwar reconstruction in Syria, as in Lebanon previously, is about ensuring continued control of territory.
Khalil el-Hariri is a research assistant at Carnegie Middle East Center. He previously worked with UN-Habitat, where he conducted research on the local economic impact of Syrian refugees in Lebanon and on the housing, land, and property rights of Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
Postwar reconstruction in Syria, as in Lebanon previously, is about ensuring continued control of territory.
As the living conditions for Syrian refugees worsen and the risks of going home mount, the notion of a voluntary return is rapidly losing meaning.