Syria - Political background

Archaeological evidence suggests that Syria was the center of a great Semitic empire extending from the Red Sea to Turkey and Mesopotamia around 2500 BC . In the 4th century BC , Syria fell to Alexander the Great, first in a long line of European conquerors. In 637, Damascus was conquered by the Arabs. Most Syrians were converted to Islam, and Arabic gradually became the language of the area. Ottoman forces gained control of the territory in 1516 and Syria remained a province of the Ottoman Empire for the next four centuries. Following World War I, Syria was divided into British and French mandates until gaining its independence in 1944.

Two parties that had led the struggle for independence dominated Syrian political life immediately after World WarII. They were eventually discredited and replaced by pan-Arab and left-of-center political forces. For three years, Syria joined with Egypt to form the United Arab Republic (UAR). Syrians chafed under Egyptian rule and, in 1961, seceded from the UAR. A period of political instability followed until power was seized by a group of leftist army officers and a radical socialist government was formed. On 16 November 1970, a former chief of the air force and defense minister named Hafiz al-Assad took control of the government.

Today, Syria is a republic under a military regime. The Constitution of 1973 defines Syria as a "socialist popular democracy," and provides for a 195-member People's Assembly, elected by universal adult suffrage. In 1990, the seats in the Assembly were increased to 250. The president is vested with the power to appoint and dismiss vice presidents, the prime minister, ministers, and other high officials. He is also the commander in chief of the armed forces. Elections for the presidency are held every seven years, while members of the People's Assembly are elected every five years.

Although a number of parties operate in Syria, for the past three decades politics have been dominated by the Baath Party, which advocates socialism and Arab unity. Three of the smaller parties (Arab Socialist Union, Unionist Socialist, and Arab Socialist) have combined forces with the Baath, forming a coalition known as the National Progressive Front. In December 1998, the Baath won 135 of 250 Assembly seats. The president of the republic is also the secretary general of the Baath Socialist Party. Upon the death of long-time ruler Hafiz al Assad in June 2000, the Assembly appointed his son Bashar al Assad to the post of president. A referendum was held on the choice in July 2000, in which the younger Assad was approved for a seven-year term. The president, the military, and National Progressive Front hold all power; no political dissent is tolerated. The country has officially been under a state of emergency for nearly forty years.