Syria AFTER INDEPENDENCE
The Euphrates Dam, partially financed by the Soviet Union and
built with Soviet technical assistance
Courtesy Embassy of Syria
The legacy of ancient Syria, the Arab empire, Ottoman rule,
and the French Mandate left the people of Syria with loyalties to
both their own nation and their neighbors. During the period of
the French Mandate, Syria's leaders--though often competing with
each other for power--were generally united in their single goal
of freedom from French rule. Conflicts between diverse groups
were postponed, as Syrian unity was essential for the
independence fight.
With the departure of the French, however, unity among the
leaders disappeared. Aleppines contested with Damascenes for
dominance in commercial and political life; the Druzes pledged
allegiance to Druzes, the Kurds to Kurds, and tribal peoples to
tribal institutions. Alawis, the poorest yet largest of the
minorities, tried to rebel from Sunni Muslim control. Rural
leaders contended with urban leaders; the progressive,
increasingly secularized, younger generation vied with the older,
religious-minded leaders. Politicians differed over the kind of
government Syria should have--monarchy or republic, parliamentary
or presidential democracy.
Although most leaders agreed that the Syria they inherited
was merely a part of a larger Arab nation, they disagreed on the
form such a nation should take. Trade-minded Aleppines preferred
Iraq and the Hashimites, as did some of the older leaders who had
joined Faysal in 1918. Young, educated Damascenes rejected the
Hashimites, who they felt were backed by the British. The
cultural heritage of France and the American ideals of democracy
induced many Syrians to look westward for friendship. Others
looked north to the Soviet Union, which from the Syrian point of
view had no record of intrigue in the Arab world.
Syria began its independent life under the presidency of
Quwatly, backed by a splintered parliament without real
leadership. The nation's first crisis was the independence of
Israel, fruit of the Balfour Declaration and the Sykes-Picot
Agreement. In May 1948, Syrian troops invaded Israel in
conjunction with other Arab armies.
Toward the end of 1948, Syrian politicians became profoundly
disappointed with their government's failure not only to defeat
Israel but also to regain the former province of Alexandretta, to
free blocked assets in France, and to maintain an independent
currency. Prime Minister Azm tried to cut army expenditures, find
backing for the Syrian pound, and construct a new pipeline from
Iraq to the Syrian coast. He failed in all of these efforts.
On March 30, 1949, Brigadier General Husni az Zaim, army
chief of staff, staged the first of Syria's numerous coups. He
was cheered by the political opposition and the urban masses who
were tired of high prices and an inept bureaucracy. Zaim, first
backed by the British and then by the French, was recognized by
Arab and Western governments and was elected president of Syria
after abolishing political parties and proposing himself as the
only candidate. He ratified an agreement with the Trans-Arabian
Pipeline Company (Tapline) and declared himself ready to support
a Middle Eastern-North Atlantic Treaty Organization if the United
States would give economic support to the area.
Although Zaim was deposed less than five months later in a
countercoup, his brief whirlwind rule was crowded with
constructive action as well as oppressive measures. His
achievements included the start of construction on the Euphrates
River project to bring water to Aleppo; initiation of the Latakia
harbor project; building of new roads and hospitals; framing of
new civil laws, commercial laws, and penal codes; granting of
suffrage to women; and the abolition of private waqfs (charitable
religious endowments). But Zaim's personal ambition depleted the
treasury and lost him political support.
Syria's second coup was led by Brigadier General Sami al
Hinnawi, who arrested Zaim and Prime Minister Muhsin al Barazi on
August 14, 1949. After a trial before the Council of War, both
were executed. Under the provisional government of Hashim al
Atassi, a new electoral law was adopted, and women voted for the
first time in the election of November 15-16, 1949. Although
Hinnawi's coup returned Syrian government to civilian
politicians, the army remained watchful in the background.
Data as of April 1987
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