How The Al-Assad Family Came To Dominate Syria | Syria Documentary

Street Food Channel:

In the euphoric aftermath of gaining independence, most Arab countries experienced extreme political turbulence. Many states struggled to navigate a period that was defined by dynamic ideological pursuits; the most prominent of which was Arab nationalism. Syria, a key centre of pan-Arab ideas, embodied the political instability of the period; having to contend with a new belligerent neighbour in the shape of Israel and the rise of an increasingly assertive Ba’athist Party. The country went through countless changes in government until power was centralised in the hands of the military strongman Hafez al-Assad in 1970. Ever since then, the country has been ruled by his family.

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0:00 Intro
1:07 Sponsor
2:08 Post-WWII Syria
5:21 Merger with Egypt
7:02 Rise of Ba'athists
9:29 Hafez al-Assad

[HikmaHistory]

Can you see the Al-Assad being toppled from power anytime soon? And if so, how?

[Megumi_Bandicoot]

We need the “Rise and Fall of the Al-Assad family” now.

[sauln]

Who is here because of recent developments in Syria?

[laylaali]

I visited Syria couple of years before the civil war it was a beautiful and modern country it’s sad what happened to them

[jaop]

In December 8th 2024, it all ended...

[k_al]

Hi there! Loved the video, and as a Syrian myself I really enjoyed getting to know more about my country’s history without having that “ick” factor when the video presenter shows an overly biased tone and/or content, yours was very reasonable and I enjoyed it, however, I think the end of the video felt a little bit abrupt, and I would’ve loved to hear more about the present day or after effect that the Assad family has had on Syria and Syrian politics, maybe diving into how the Arab spring has launched an opposition unlike any other that the family has had to deal with and now it stands of a very intricate line of maintains foreign support from Iran and Russia and pleasing certain communities within Syria to retain control. Other than that I think you presented your information well and the script was nice!

[eyesoftomorrows]

I love the explanation about the family’s rise to power! I come from Lebanon, and my family was deeply involved within Lebanese politics. My grandfather knew Hafez Al-Assad, driving through checkpoints and was allowed through the military checkpoint due to how important he was. It was only recently when he started speaking about this, and he even has some photos with him meeting Hafez and other Lebanese politicians. Though I would like a better description about why the Cedar revolution started against Syria in the end of the video, other then that very well done!

[SaveznaRepublikaJugoslavija]

Syria will emerge from its conflict
Love from Serbia 🇷🇸🇸🇾🇷🇸🇸🇾

[taccus]

I've written my Master's Degree thesis on the topic and now you release the video, what a timing

[MrHatski]

I like your channel mate, I do; but in this one you still haven't explained how the Assad's really maintained power, or how he managed to orchestrate a dynastic transfer to his son. Unless you've done that on another episode??

[rdreidmehrabi]

Great work! thank you for producing these high-quality videos on this often mis-understood region

[Cheers]

In short: coup, dictatorship, coup, dictatorship, coup, dictatorship all the time

[enesamederel]

It's so heartbreaking to see that all the me countries are doomed from the start. Living in a country which its borders are set and drawn by foreigners and naming by them as a nation... Geez I felt lucky to be where I am

[andreasgeorgopoulos]

So sad all the instability that has gone on in the region for decades specially Lebanon and more so Syria the last 10 years… Syria is basically destroyed. When I was back home In greece there was so many Syrian refugees I could hear Arabic spoken on the street in patra where I’m from almost as much as Greek … it was hard to watch because Greece has been economically devastated and destroyed since 2008 or maybe earlier so the country was not and is still not in the position to help these poor people greece couldn’t even help their own nationals for the longest…. And based off what my family tells me back home it’s gotten worse since Covid … I hope and pray the suffering people of the world find peace, happiness and prosperity god willing. 🙏🏼

[blueink]

What would be most relevant, is to explain how the minority of the Alawi ended up to lead Syria.

In the beginning of the 20e century, the Syrian bourgeoisie was made of Arab Sunni and when modern army needed soldiers, Arab Sunni were reluctant to join. 

Those who join the army were those that belongs to the lowest social class of the population: The Alawi. They used to hold the lowest jobs, and were marginalised in the Syrian society.

Slowly, they became the majority, within the army, and through "Coup d'Etat", then ended up at the head of the country, and here comes the Assad family.

In that sense, Syria is the only Arab countries led by a religious minority. In fact, the rising Arab nationalist movement has strongly contributed to minimise this aspect of "religious minority". 

Hence, among the most activists within the Arab nationalism movement, are people coming from religious minorities, as the development of this ideology, which was competing with the islamism movement, allow them to be more integrated in the society.  

The collapse of the Arab nationalism and the return of political islam in the regional scene constitute a slow shift towards a new era that did not appear yet.

[shirleyhowley]

I remember Syria in the early 1970s we had a Syrian neighbour then and she told me about her country how unstable it was and dangerous !

[syro]

Hafez Assad stabilised Syria and made it a powerful and an influential state in the arab world.
Ever heard of the saying “no war without Egypt and no peace without Syria”
Those who say that he played on sectarianism are usually a bunch of disgruntled sunnis who are just upset over the fact that he was an alawaite. Nothing else.
The Syrian military and intelligence had PLENTY of powerful sunni generals and directors, but that doesn’t mean anything to the self-victimising population of Syria who for so long benefited from alienating minorities under and post-ottoman rule.
The reason why plenty of minorities gravitated towards the army was due to the fact that Syria was a feudalistic country with the sunni aristocracy controlling EVERY aspect of the Syrian republic from economy to politics to lands.
Entire states were owned by powerful families who happened to be sunni.
Also Syria’s “democracy” was never truly a democracy when ethnic and religious minorities were excluded and unrepresented.
The reason why many Syrian sunnis glorify that period is because it was dominated by sunnis and minorities were excluded.
So much for “one people” aye

[lastcommodore]

very good, factual overview of the modern history there

[chris.fyourman]

Thanks for this. We live in a complex world and your informative and accessible channel are important.

[MontecristotoValjean]

really enjoyed this. It's important people know about the (complex) history of the Middle Eastern world