In recent years, Raqqa Governorate has witnessed attempts to reorganize professional and service-related activities within institutional frameworks—including professional unions, some of which were organizationally linked to general federations spanning northeastern Syria—all within an environment still undergoing formation and reconstruction. Following the return of the governorate to Syrian government control in January 2026, the region’s administrative and institutional framework was restructured; this shift impacted the nature of these unions’ operations, their relationships with official bodies, and their representative and organizational roles.
The agricultural sector holds a pivotal place in Raqqa’s local economy, serving as the primary source of livelihood and income for a large segment of the population. Consequently, the political participation of farmers extends beyond mere rights-based or union-related advocacy; it is directly linked to equitable resource distribution, livelihood stability, and the post-conflict economic and social recovery of rural communities.
In this context, farmers’ unions are expected to act as intermediaries between agricultural producers and the entities responsible for managing the agricultural sector. However, the effectiveness of this role remains open to question—particularly in post-conflict settings—where administrative and representative functions often overlap, and mechanisms for accountability and grassroots participation are weakened, raising issues regarding legitimacy and efficacy.
Against this backdrop, this paper aims to analyze the concept of political participation among Raqqa’s farmers, evaluate the Raqqa Farmers’ Union in terms of its legitimacy and institutional effectiveness, identify the structural and organizational challenges it faces, and examine its relationships with relevant stakeholders. Ultimately, the paper seeks to offer practical recommendations to enhance grassroots participation and advance agricultural unionism toward a more inclusive and transparent model.