Syria

Country Profile: Syria

Executive Summary

Currently, Syria epitomizes the discontent of civilians living in the Arab world under the rule of a dictatorial regime. The government's ongoing security operations to quell unrest and widespread armed opposition activity have led to extended violent clashes between government forces and oppositionists. The escalation of turmoil in the state has led the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces to be recognized by more than 130 countries as the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people. Underscoring these efforts to undermine the legitimacy of the regime of Syria’s current president are economic sanctions enacted by multiple other states and multi-state unions, including the Arab League, EU, Turkey, and the United States.

Brief History

Previously under French authority following World War I after the fall of the Ottoman Empire, Syria was granted it independence in 1946. The new country lacked political stability, however, and experienced a series of military coups during its first decades of sovereignty. Syria united with Egypt in February 1958 to form the United Arab Republic. In September 1961, the two entities separated, and the Syrian Arab Republic was once again established. In November 1970, Hafiz al-Asad, a member of the socialist Ba'th Party, seized power in a bloodless coup and brought political stability to the country. Following his death, his son, Bashar al-Asad, was approved as president by popular referendum in July 2000.

Political Structure

Political Parties:
Legal parties: National Progressive Front (NPF) [includes Arab Socialist Renaissance (Ba'th) Party, Socialist Unionist Democratic Party, Syrian Arab Socialist Union (ASU), Syrian Communist Party (two branches), Syrian Social Nationalist Party, Unionist Socialist Party]
Kurdish parties (considered illegal): Kurdish Azadi Party, Kurdish Democratic Accord Party (al Wifaq), Kurdish Democratic Party (al Parti-Ibrahim wing), Kurdish Democratic Party (al Parti-Mustafa wing), Kurdish Democratic Party in Syria (KDP-S), Kurdish Democratic Patriotic/National Party, Kurdish Democratic Progressive Party (KDPP-Darwish), Kurdish Democratic Progressive Party (KDPP-Muhammad), Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), Kurdish Democratic Unity Party, Kurdish Democratic Yekiti Party, Kurdish Future Party (KFP), Kurdish Future Party, Kurdish Left Party, Kurdish Yekiti (Union) Party, Syrian Kurdish Democratic Party
Other parties: Syrian Democratic Party
Political System: Syria is a republic under an authoritarian regime. The chief of state is the President while the Prime Minister serves as head of government. The president is approved to a seven-year term by a popular referendum, and there exist no term limits. The president then appoints the vice presidents, prime minister, and deputy prime ministers.
Political Conflicts: Influenced by major uprisings that began elsewhere in the region, anti-government protests broke out in the southern province of Dar'a in March 2011. Protesters call for the repeal of the restrictive Emergency Law, which allows arrests without charge, the legalization of political parties, and the removal of corrupt local officials. The ensuing demonstrations and unrest have spread rapidly to nearly every Syrian city, but the size and intensity of protests have fluctuated over time. This unrest persists in 2013. The death toll among Syrian government forces, Opposition Forces, and civilians has topped 60,000.

Economic Structure

Economic System: The Syrian government vigorously regulates the economy. Prior to the unrest that began in 2011, Damascus began liberalizing economic policies, including cutting lending interest rates, opening private banks, consolidating multiple exchange rates, raising prices on some subsidized items, and establishing the Damascus Stock Exchange.
Economic Trends: The economy of Syria has been severely damaged by the outbreak of unrest. The modest economic growth and reform seen before it have been subject to the current economic contraction in the state. International sanctions and reduced domestic consumption and production were at the root of this contraction. Long-run economic constraints include foreign trade barriers, declining oil production, high unemployment, rising budget deficits, and an increasing pressure on water supplies caused by heavy use in agriculture, rapid population growth, industrial expansion, and water pollution.
Economic Resources: Syrian industrial sectors include petroleum, textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco, phosphate rock mining, cement, oil seeds crushing, and auto manufacturing. Exports include crude oil, minerals, petroleum products, fruits and vegetables, cotton fiber, textiles, clothing, meat and live animals, as well as wheat.

Social Structure

Religion:

Muslim: 14,563,755 adherents (90.32% of population)
Christian: 825,580 adherents (5.12% of population)
Non-Religious: 467,614 adherents (2.90% of population)
Other: 249,932 adherents (1.55% of population)
Bahai: 16,125 adherents (0.10% of population)
Jewish: 1,612 adherents (0.01% of population)

Churches:

Catholic (162,000 members)
Greek Orthodox (135,000 members)
Armenian Apostolic (64,835 members)
Syrian Orthodox (50,279 members)
Assyrian Church of the East (26,374 members)
Union of Evangelist Armenian (6,044 members)

Ethnicity:

Arab 90.3%
Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7%

Gender:

Overall male population: 11,444,059 (50.8%)
Overall female population: 11,086,687 (49.2%)

Urbanization:

Urban population: 56% of total population (2010)
Rate of urbanization: 2.5% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Children under the age of 5 underweight: 10% (2006)

Operating Organizations

Political Groups: Free Syrian Army, National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Oppositon Forces (also known as the Syrian Oppositon Coalition, operates in exile in Cairo), Syrian Muslim Brotherhood (SMB) (operates in exile in London)
Terrorist: In addition to claims that the Syrian government itself engages in state sponsored terrorism, Hezbollah and Jabhat al-Nusra operate within the state
Note: There are also hundreds of local groups that organize protests and stage armed attacks

Allies and Enemies

Regional Allies: Iran
Regional Enemies: Lebanon, Israel, Turkey
Global Allies: China, Russia
Global Enemies: United States

Country Trajectory

Syria finds itself in perhaps one of the most perilous positions a state can. Immersed in a perilous struggle between a dictatorial regime and hostile rebel forces, Syria has caused over one million refugees to flee the country. Neighboring Lebanon has received a vast quantity of these individuals, and subsequently has been met with armed engagement by forces loyal to Assad’s regime. Compounding the complexity of the situation in Syria is the financial aspect. Estimates by Abdullah al-Dardari, former deputy premier for economic affairs under President Assad, place repairs of the damaged caused by the two years of fighting at $80 billion. These astronomical costs will only further burden the state’s economy, which is already struggling to combat its economic decline since the beginning of the conflict.

Current Events

Mar. 16th, 2013: A Syrian army general, identified by opposition activists as General Mohammed Ezz al-Din Khalouf, has reportedly defected to the opposition, saying that morale in the army had collapsed. If confirmed, it would be one of the most senior defections since the start of the conflict.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21817201

Mar. 19th, 2013: Syria's government and rebels accused each other of launching a deadly chemical attack near the northern city of Aleppo in what would, if confirmed, be the first use of such weapons in the two-year conflict. Syria's state television said rebels fired a rocket carrying chemical agents that killed 25 people and wounded dozens. The pro-opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the conflict, said 16 soldiers were among the dead.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/19/us-syria-crisis-chemical-idUSBRE92I0A220130319

Sources