With the recent tragic and horrifying events taking place in Syria and the toppling up of Bashar al-Assad’s government, brings an end to the 50 years of Assad family rule. This raises a curiosity amongst the people around the world to know more about Bashar al-Assad and his dramatic journey from a doctor to a dictator. Let’s dive deep into the life of this Syrian president:
Early life and Education
The Assad family reign started in 1971, with Hafez al-Assad rising from poverty and seizing power by leading the Baath Party. Bashar al-Assad, son of Hafez al-Assad was born on 11th September, 1965 in Damascus and grew up in the shadow of his father, a Soviet ally who ruled Syria for three decades and helped propel a minority Alawite population to key political, social and military posts.
Initially, Bashar al-Assad was not to follow his father’s footsteps into politics but the tragic event of the death of his elder brother Bassel, who was ideally groomed to succeed his father, in a car accident in 1994 led Bashar’s return to Syria from studying medicine in the United Kingdom. He had completed his medical degree and training in ophthalmology by then, and for a time, he also worked as an eye doctor in Syria and abroad.
After Bashar’s elder brother’s death and his return to Syria, the prospects of him succeeding his father took an accelerated pace. His father began preparing him for leadership, giving crash courses on politics and governance. He studied military science and rose to the rank of colonel in the Syrian army.
Assad comes to power
After his father’s death in June 2000, it took just hours for the Syrian parliament to change the constitution to lower the presidential age of eligibility from 40 to Assad’s age at the time of 34, a move that allowed him to succeed his father after opposition-less elections the following month. Bashar’s early years in office were marked by a wave of optimism, both domestically and internationally. He married Syrian descent investment banker Asma al-Assad, who grew up in London and would take all the decisions only after consulting her. He promised reforms, liberalization of the economy, and modernization of the country’s political system.
GDP of Syria in 1971, was 2.59 Billion USD during Hafez al-Assad’s rule with rose to 18.94 Billion USD in 2000. Bashar’s liberal thinking, optimistic and progressive ideas led the GDP growth to 67.54 Billion USD in 2011. This period was called the “Damascus Spring,” a brief period during which political discussions, civil society activism, and even limited public criticism of the regime were allowed. However, these reforms were short-lived. His promises of change were tempered by the political and social realities of ruling Syria, a country long shaped by the iron-fisted authoritarianism of his father.
The Syrian government quickly reasserted control over public discourse, and political dissent was met with suppression. The regime’s commitment to political reform was superficial, and Bashar’s vision of a “new Syria” was never fully realized. By the mid-2000s, the regime had returned to its repressive ways, tightening its grip on power and curbing dissent.
The Arab Spring which saw protests erupt in many countries, also gave an upper hand to the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War in 2011 which irrevocably shaped Bashar al-Assad’s rule. Protests against the government started, which the Assad’s government tried to bring down through violent suppressions, brutal crackdowns and alleged use of chemical weapons against their own people. Assad’s forces have since been accused of severe human rights violations and brutal assaults against civilians throughout the 13-year war.
The war soon became a complex and multi-faceted conflict, with regional and international powers becoming involved. The United States, European Union, Turkey, and several Arab countries supported various opposition groups, while Russia and Iran became staunch allies of the Assad regime, providing military, financial, and diplomatic support. Russia’s intervention in 2015 proved pivotal, as it allowed Assad to regain significant territory and turn the tide in the war.
Fall Of Assad Government
Late in November 2023, developments in Syria caused alarm. An armed set of forces comprising the Syrian opposition began gaining ground in major cities one by one. And on Sunday, December 8, President al-Assad’s government fell forcing him to flee the country.
With the changing political dynamics and rising power of the opposition forces slowly taking over all the parts of Syria, the return of al-Assad into power again now seems far from imagination which leaves Syrian with an unpredictable future.
Reference- Bashar al-Assad
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