Photonews Logo Photonews logo
  • Home
  • Pakistan
    • Punjab
    • Sindh
    • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
    • Azad Jammu Kashmir
    • Balochistan
    • Gilgit – Baltistan
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Videos
    Gen V Season 2 trailer
    Videos

    Gen V Season 2 Trailer Cast, Plot, Premiere Details

    July 26, 2025 3 Min Read
    IShowSpeed Daniel La Belle race
    Videos

    IShowSpeed Beats Daniel La Belle in 40-Meter Race, Hits 41M Subscribers

    June 24, 2025 2 Min Read
    Cardi B new single Outside
    Videos

    Cardi B’s ‘Outside’ Single Sparks Buzz Over Offset and Stefon Diggs

    June 20, 2025 2 Min Read
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Offbeat
  • Blog
  • Contact
Reading: The Fall of the Assad Dynasty: End of Alawite Rule
PhotoNews Pakistan PhotoNews Pakistan
Font ResizerAa
Search
  • Home
  • Pakistan
    • Punjab
    • Sindh
    • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
    • Balochistan
    • Azad Jammu Kashmir
    • Gilgit – Baltistan
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Videos
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Offbeat
  • Blog
  • Contact
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
© 2022 Photonews. All Rights Reserved.
End of Assad Dynasty and family tree
PhotoNews Pakistan > Blog > The Fall of the Assad Dynasty: End of Alawite Rule
Blog

The Fall of the Assad Dynasty: End of Alawite Rule

Abdul Malik
By Abdul Malik Published December 8, 2024 3 Min Read
Share
Family Tree of Assad Family (Photo Credits: Library illinois Edu), and Syrian President Bashar Al Assad. (Photo Credits: The Atrum Belli)
SHARE

The Assad family’s governance in Syria, spanning over five decades, has come to an abrupt end. Today, insurgent forces have overtaken Damascus, the nation’s capital, leading to President Bashar al-Assad‘s flight and effectively concluding the dynasty’s reign.

For years, the Alawite-led dynasty maintained control over a predominantly Sunni populace, beginning with Hafez al-Assad’s rise to power through a coup on November 13, 1970. This era, characterized by political upheaval and frequent coups post-independence, saw Hafez, from the Alawite minority, ascend from Syrian Air Force commander to the head of state, establishing a network of loyalty within the military and the Ba’ath Party.

Hafez utilized divide-and-rule strategies, exploiting the country’s ethnic and religious divisions, thereby centralizing his power and creating a fragile state infrastructure. He strategically placed Alawites, a historically marginalized group, in influential military and governmental positions while manipulating sectarian and tribal lines to mitigate threats and consolidate his rule.

The Alawite Ascendancy and Ba’ath Party Influence

Post-1946 independence, the Alawites, constituting about 12-15% of the pre-war population, became a significant political and military force, bolstering the secular, inclusive Ba’ath Party founded in 1947. This contrasted with the Sunni-dominated Muslim Brotherhood, promoting Arab nationalism and secularism.

The intention was for Hafez’s legacy to continue through his eldest son, Bassel. Still, his sudden death in 1994 led to Bashar, an inexperienced ophthalmologist, inheriting the presidency in 2000, confirmed by a referendum securing 97% of the vote. Initially, Bashar’s rule brought hopes of reform, but these quickly faded as he retained his father’s authoritarian system and advisers.

Economic Challenges and Governance Under Bashar

Unlike his father’s, Bashar’s rule involved replacing old guards with his urban elite allies, lacking grassroots support and alienating rural populations. His tenure saw significant economic mismanagement, with GDP growth benefiting a narrow elite and exacerbating inequality, poverty, and corruption. A severe drought and poor resource management pushed many rural Syrians into cities, further straining societal divides.

Read: Mohammed Al-Jolani’s Rise Syria’s Rebel Victory

The governance model under Bashar, designed to be coup-proof, maintained power through a complex system of overlapping security agencies and patronage, keeping Syria a de facto dictatorship despite superficial democratic processes.

The Arab Spring and Syria’s Civil War

The 2011 uprising, part of the Arab Spring, escalated from peaceful protests to a devastating civil war, marking years of brutal crackdowns, significant casualties, and widespread displacement. The recent offensive by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an Islamist group formerly associated with al-Qaeda, signifies a pivotal challenge to Assad’s rule, capturing Damascus and ending over half a century of the Assad family’s control.

TAGGED:Featured
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Whatsapp Whatsapp LinkedIn Email Copy Link Print
Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement

HBL Saving Made Easy
HBL Saving Made Easy

Recent Posts

Hunza River floods

Hunza River Floods Block Karakoram Highway, Strand Travelers in Gilgit-Baltistan

Savannah James Met Gala 2025

Savannah James Stuns with Pilates Flexibility and Strength

HEC Morocco conference

Omani Scholarship Program 2025–26: Fully Funded Opportunities for Pakistani Students

Post Archives

More Popular from Photonews

Mobile Services Suspension Elections
Balochistan

Pakistan Suspends Mobile Services in Balochistan till August 31

2 Min Read
FBR appellate tribunal changes
Business

FBR Amends 2025-26 Income Tax Rules For The None Fillers

3 Min Read
IMF Pakistan budget 2025 demands and condition
Business

Pakistan Plans Debt Maturity Extension to Meet IMF Requirements

2 Min Read
Business

Gold Prices Continue Decline in Pakistan on August 12, 2025

On August 12, 2025, gold prices continued their downward trend in both international and domestic markets.…

August 12, 2025
Pakistan

PAA Denies Islamabad Airport Closure, Confirms Brief Flight Pauses for PAF Rehearsals

On August 10, 2025, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) denied media reports regarding an eight-day closure…

August 10, 2025
Entertainment

Gina Carano’s Disney Settlement: A Path to Star Wars Return as Cara Dune?

On August 7, 2025, Disney and Lucasfilm settled a high-profile lawsuit with former The Mandalorian actress…

August 8, 2025
Punjab

Lahore ATC Acquits Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Sentences PTI Leaders in May 9 Riots Cases

On August 11, 2025, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore acquitted Shah Mahmood Qureshi, a leader…

August 11, 2025
PhotoNews Pakistan

Always Stay Up to Date

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

Categories

  • World
  • Pakistan
  • Punjab
  • Sindh
  • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
  • Balochistan
  • Azad Jammu Kashmir

 

  • Top News
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Videos
  • Tech
  • Offbeat
  • Blog

© 2024 Phototnews
All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?