Ba’athism

A Ba’athist is a member or supporter of Ba’athism, an Arab nationalist and socialist ideology founded in Syria in the 1940s. The Ba’ath Party came to power in both Iraq and Syria, ruling as a one-party state in both countries for decades until recent years. 

Core principles

The core principles of Ba’athism were established by its founders, Syrian intellectuals Michel Aflaq and Salah al-Din al-Bitar. The name “Ba’ath” is Arabic for “renaissance” or “resurrection,” reflecting the ideology’s goal to revive Arab culture, values, and society. Its famous slogan is “Unity, Freedom, Socialism”. 

Unity (Pan-Arabism): The ideology promotes Arab nationalism, the idea that Arabs share a common heritage and should be united in a single, powerful state spanning from Morocco to Iraq.

Freedom (Independence): Ba’athism calls for freedom from Western influence and colonialism.

Socialism (Arab Socialism): This refers to state ownership of natural resources and key industries, land redistribution, and economic planning. However, it differs from Marxist socialism by rejecting the idea of class struggle, arguing that it hinders Arab unity. 

Decline of Ba’athist regimes

After coming to power in Syria in 1963 and Iraq in 1968, the ruling Ba’ath parties devolved into authoritarian, one-party states with extreme repression and cults of personality. Internal conflict and rivalries led to a schism in 1966, splitting the movement into rival Iraqi and Syrian factions. 

Iraq: The Ba’athist regime under Saddam Hussein was overthrown during the 2003 U.S. invasion and the party was banned by the new government.

Syria: The Ba’athist regime under the Assad family ruled for over 50 years. Its downfall came on December 8, 2024, after a renewed offensive by opposition forces during the Syrian civil war. 

Variations of Ba’athism

Neo-Ba’athism (Syria): After the 1966 coup, the Syrian Ba’ath Party became increasingly militarized and radical, shifting its focus away from traditional pan-Arabism and toward an authoritarian state controlled by the Assad family.

Saddamism (Iraq): This was a right-wing variant of Ba’athism that emerged under Saddam Hussein. It combined militarism with Iraqi nationalism, often attempting to link ancient Mesopotamian heritage with Arab identity