The provisional governance structures that have emerged in the Syrian Kurdish-majority areas captured by the PYD have become more formalized, and much of the policies are inspired by the writings of Abdullah Öcalan.

As the armed conflict between jihadists groups and the Syrian Kurdish militia moves into Arab-majority territories, both sides have increasingly relied on support from local Arab tribes to tip the balance.

While the establishment of people's courts and peace councils in the Kurdish region of Syria are positive, the boundaries between party, civil society, and state structures have becomed blurred and could be problematic.

The Syriac Christian militia and its Kurdish PYD allies have deepen and restructure their control over the area.

While the Christian Wusta neighborhood in Qamishli previously had one militia with ambivalent political loyalties, it now has two separate militias with clear and opposing loyalties: Sutoro and Sootoro.

Different areas of Qamishli are controlled by either regular regime forces or a collection of rival militias, including the Syriacs’ own militia force, the Sutoro.

Many of Qamishli’s Christians no longer see a future in the country, torn apart by war, religious strife, and economic collapse.