After insurgents in Syria successfully overthrew President Bashar Assad, the ruling Baath party revealed a dramatic shift in its fortunes by freezing its activities. With many of the party’s leaders going into hiding and some fleeing the country, the former party headquarters in Damascus has been repurposed as a facility for former army and security force members to register their names and surrender their weapons. Calls are growing to officially dissolve the Arab Socialist Baath Party, which had held power in Syria for over six decades.
Critics, including former party members, blame the Baath party for damaging relations with other Arab nations and fostering corruption that contributed to the country’s turmoil. One former member, Mohammed Hussein Ali, who worked for a state oil company, expressed relief that the Baath rule has ended, calling for the party’s dissolution.
While the insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) led the offensive against Assad, no official decision has been made regarding the fate of the Baath party. HTS’s leader has indicated that officials responsible for crimes against the Syrian people, potentially including party members, will face justice.
Established in 1947 with a vision of uniting Arab states, the Baath party became closely linked with the Assad family’s rule in Syria. The party’s origins under founders Michel Aflaq and Salaheddine Bitar were overshadowed by the Assad regime’s control and association with the Alawite sect. Membership in the Baath party was often a prerequisite for career advancement or government positions, creating a climate of fear and surveillance under the rule of the Assad family.
Despite its nationalist and socialist ideology, the party’s grip on power began to weaken as dissent grew during the Syrian uprising. With the party’s influence declining, the once-feared Baath Vanguards youth branch lost its prominence, and the constitution was amended to remove the party’s status as the nation’s leader.
Aimed at appeasing the public’s demand for political reforms, the Baath party in Syria appeared to make significant changes. However, in reality, the party maintained its control, with its members occupying the majority of seats in both parliament and the government. One individual, identified only as Ghadir, a former soldier and member of the Alawite sect, shared his experience of joining the party to secure a stable income through military service. He mentioned the necessity of being a Baathist to access certain job opportunities, reflecting the pervasive influence of the party in various sectors.
While the downfall of the Baath party in Syria has not been met with widespread mourning, concerns have been raised regarding the potential repercussions of Sunni majority rule in the country. There are fears that a purge akin to the de-Baathification process in Iraq post-Saddam Hussein’s regime could unfold, leading to further sectarian tensions. In Iraq, the de-Baathification committee was instrumental in removing individuals loyal to Saddam Hussein from positions of power, a move that exacerbated existing Sunni-Shiite rifts and contributed to the rise of extremist groups such as al-Qaida and the Islamic State in Iraq.
Following the fall of President Assad, the Baath party in Syria issued a statement urging its members to surrender their weapons and government vehicles to the new authorities. On December 24, former army colonel Mohammed Merhi, a party loyalist, was among those who complied, returning his firearm at the former party headquarters. Merhi expressed a nuanced perspective on the Baath party, acknowledging its foundational principles while recognizing their exploitation over the years. He indicated potential interest in aligning with a different political party should Syria transition to a multi-party democratic system in the future.
By relinquishing his Soviet Makarov pistol and receiving a document symbolizing his reconciliation with the new leadership, Merhi articulated his desire to reintegrate as a regular Syrian citizen and contribute to the nation’s reconstruction efforts. His gesture encapsulated a sentiment shared by others within the Baath party, emphasizing the need for collective efforts to rebuild a new Syria grounded in inclusivity and progress.
