Most analysts are worrying about getting Bashar al Assad out of office and out of Syria. What happens after he goes? Post-war transition in Syria will require a massive and complex effort in order to achieve anything like a democratic state. This article analyzes issues likely to arise in achieving the vital components of transition. It starts not with the day after but rather with the desirable end states, which are mutually interdependent and have to be pursued simultaneously: a safe and secure environment, rule of law, stable governance, a sustainable economy, and social well-being. The challenges are daunting, the more so as the violence continues. Preparations should begin right away. Syrians should lead the effort, which is highly context- and path- dependent, but internationals should pitch in, drawing on experience gained in Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Iraq, and elsewhere