Syrian Arab Republic – Official Name: Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah als Suriyah
Historical Background: Syria’s history dates back thousands of years. Ancient Syria covered a substantially larger area than the modern, troubled country. Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Israel were all part of this ancient area that is often distinguished by the label “Greater Syria.” Located between the Mediterranean Sea and the desert, it was an important area mainly because it formed a land-bridge among three continents, Europe, Asia and Africa. While lately in the news for its civil war, this ancient land boasts a rich and fascinating culture well worth exploring.[1]
Political System: A republic rule by mono-political party since 1961, the system turn into inheritance when the son of the president become the leader of the country. Adopting a dictatorship approach toward his people, Syria witnessed a popular uprising in 2011 supported by the West. The government adopted an oppressive style to silence the opposition and asking for help for the Russia who provided them with expertise and personnel to terminate the opposition.
Economic System: the country’s shortage of natural resources and the infrastructure necessary for economic prosperity. Most of the economy is based on agricultural products where most of the populations live in the rural area. The government took revolutionary measures to have full control over the country’s resources including land reform and the nationalization of major industries such as textile and big foreign investment in the country a limited quantity of oil.
During the 1970s the country witnessed a high prosperity while in 1980s, it witnessed an austerity due to the fluctuation in oil prices during this period. As a result of that the government started adopting privatization and market liberalization policies during 1990s-2000s. those policies created a big social and economic gap between the people of the country and led to the breakout of the civil uprising against the government that developed into civil war in 2010s.
As a result, the country’s economy is suffering from conflict-related hyperinflation in 2022, and its currency Syrian Lyra is plunged to uncharted territories against the UD$ and UK pound. Syria joined the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative, which could help the country rebuild its war-torn infrastructure and economy.
Economic Standing: The World Bank released its first Economic Monitor on Syria report in 2022. report finds that a decade of conflict has wiped out a generation of development gains in Syria, cutting economic activity by half between 2010 and 2019.[2] GDP fall from $252.52 billion in 2010 to $21.45 billion in 2018, the most recent DGP statistic available.
Military Strength:
Military Strength: The Syrian military Forces consistent of three main branches:
First, The Syrian Armed forces consisted of Syrian Arab Army, Syrian Arab defense forces, and National defense forces which is paramilitary forces.
Second, the Syrian Arab Navy consist of two branches the Coastal Defense Forces and the Marines, recently attached to to the navy in 20th century.
Third: The Syrian Arab Air forces consisted of Air defense forces and air army forces mainly form Soviet era airplane fighter jets and some Russian made air jet fight.
Syria is ranked 47 of 142 out of the countries considered for the annual GFP review. It holds a PwrIndx* score of 0.6953 (a score of 0.0000 is considered ‘perfect’). This entry last updated on 05/02/2022.[3]
Foreign Military Basses:[4]
Russia has /83/ military sites, consisting of bases and posts, spread over /12/ governorates, namely: /23/ in Hama, /11/ in Al-Hasaka, /10/ in Aleppo, /7/ in Deir ez-Zor, /6/ in Raqqa, /5/ in As-Suwayda, /5/ in Idlib, /5/ in Homs, /4/ in Damascus, /3/ in Lattakia, /2/ in Quneitra and one in Tartous.
The US-led International Coalition has /33/ military sites, bases or posts, in /4/ governorates: /19/ in Al-Hasaka, / 10/ in Deir ez-Zor, /2/ in Raqqa and /2/ in Damascus countryside (Rif Dimashq).
Turkey has /113/ military sites in Syria, consisting of bases and posts, within /5/ governorates: /55/ in Aleppo, /43/ in Idlib, /9/ in Raqqa, /4/ in Al-Hasaka and /2/ in Lattakia.
Turkey has /113/ military sites in Syria, consisting of bases and posts, within /5/ governorates: /55/ in Aleppo, /43/ in Idlib, /9/ in Raqqa, /4/ in Al-Hasaka and /2/ in Lattakia.
Hezbollah has /116/ military sites in Syria in the form of independent, joint or semi-shared points with the Iranian forces, within /9/ governorates, as follows: /38/ in Aleppo, /13/ in Idlib, /11/ in Homs, /12/ in Damascus and its countryside (Rif Dimashq), /21/ in Daraa , /7/ in Deir ez-Zor, /7/ in Quneitra, /3/ in As-Suwayda and /4/ in Hama.
Other capabilities and Assets: None.
Geographical Location: Syria is located in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant. It is bordered by Iraq to the east and southeast, the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to the north, Jordan to the south, and Israel and Lebanon to the southwest. A country of fertile plains, high mountains, and deserts, Syria is home to diverse ethnic and religious groups, including the majority Syrian Arabs, Kurds, Turkmens, Assyrians, Armenians, Circassians, Albanians, and Greeks.[5]
Political Culture: the Syria is existed based on the premise of socialist in which the country managed and controlled the means of the production. With the trend of globalization, the country moved to the free-market policies while still controlling the main sector such are the health care and free education in all the stages up to the university stage.
Internal Strength: Probably the main strength the country has is its alias with regional (Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon) and global power (Russia and China). The economic and military cooperation with those countries boasts the country position in the region especially with Israel and Turkey.
Internal Weakness: the various racial and ethnic groups living in the country and their immediate connection to the neighboring countries is considered a main obstacle to be controlled.
Other Internal Characteristics: the majority of the Arab race in the country make it easy for the people to mixed with their counterparts in the neighboring countries such as (Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine and Iraq) and facilitate cooperation between those private citizens.
[1] Middle East Complexity, Culture and Conflict. St. Louis Community College Libraries.
[2] World Bank, Overview, Looking ahead.
[3] GFP, strength in number: 2022 Syrian Military Strength.
[4] Jussor for studies “ Map of Military Bases and Post of Foreign Forces in Syria” January 2021.
[5] Syria Country in the Middle East, Bing map
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