From Father to Son: Ruling the Syrian State

Meet the President

By: Matthew RJ Brodsky

            When Hafiz al-Asad died on 10 June 2000, Syrian television immediately cut to a live telecast of the People's Assembly.  The special session was held in order to amend Article 83 of the constitution that stipulated that the Syrian president must be over 40 years old to serve.  Bashar was 34.  On 26 June 2000, the People's Assembly approved Bashar's candidacy for president.  A referendum was also held on 10 June where according to official figures, Bashar received a majority of 97.29 percent of 9,442,054 votes.[27]  The transfer of power proved to be a smooth transition.
            The system Bashar inherited in 2000 was based on four forces:
 
  1. The 'Alawi community that guaranteed the cohesion and viability of the regime. 
  2. The rural Sunni community located in the peripheral regions who constituted a senior partner in the ruling coalition. 
  3. Other minorities such as the Christians, Druze, and Isma'ilis who were also partners in the ruling coalition and relied on 'Alawi dominance to guarantee their own status and personal and economic security.  
  4. The growing integration of the Sunni urban and economic elite - primarily in Damascus.[28] 

            Leverett identified five problems facing the new president:
  1. Institutional immaturity
  2. Personalized succession
  3. Family dynamics
  4. Questionable authority
  5. Policy stasis.[29] 

            So how did Bashar fare?
 
[27] Tishrin 13 July 2000.
[28] Zisser. Commanding Syria. pp. 48-49.
[29] Leverett. Inheriting Syria. pp. 27-31.