the whole Syrian state , Alawites utilized institutional influence that they inherited from the period of the French mandate .
Early Traces of Neo-Colonialism
The transition from the first phase of Syrian state-building into the second phase , which is characterized by the emerging traces of neo-colonialism . The beginning of the second phase is marked by the successful military coup of the Baath Party . It is essential to understand the ideology behind and explore the roots of the Baath Party . As a representative group for the Alawite minority , the domination of the Baath Party played a pivotal role in shaping domestic dynamics . These tendencies and other interstate developments are explored in the following chapter .
With Baath Party coming to power , Hafez al-Assad was elected president of Syria , and , being a representative of the Alawite minority group , put an end to constant instability and continuous military coups in Syria . Serving in the role of a political leader of a state with such a volatile political past , Assad introduced a number of changes within both domestic and foreign policies . As far as domestic policies are concerned , it should be noted that these policies have primarily served the interests of the Alawite community and did not provide solutions to tough economic conditions for non-Alawites . What exacerbated the selective policymaking politics of Assad was the ruling party ’ s promotion of secularism and adherence to non-religious values , much to the chagrin of non-Alawi groups . Islamic Fundamentalism was established informally and continued to expand its sphere of influence , particularly among the Sunni majority . Eventually , it developed into a large-scale movement initiating and carrying out violent strikes against the regime . The supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood did not approve of Assad ’ s decision to separate state from religion , which was officially recorded in the new constitution . Only after three years of Assad ’ s presidency , in 1973 , the activities of the Brotherhood took shape and were carried out in form of protests and demonstrations , which were contained temporarily when Islam was recognized as the official religion of the Syrian state . Nevertheless , the Muslim Brotherhood did not come to a consensus with Assad ’ s regime on several issues . This is why the violent acts of the Brotherhood became occasional and were expressed via rebellions , murders of Alawi soldiers , violent attacks against public officials , rallies , strikes , and mass demonstrations 20 . It should also be noted that Assad ’ s government , despite the fact that it aimed to contain the opposition , did not tolerate
20
Haklai , A Minority Rule over a Hostile Majority , ( 2000 ), 35 – 40 .
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