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The Resilience of Authoritarian Rule in Syria under Hafez and Bashar Al-Asad

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  • Büchs, Annette

Abstract

This paper seeks an explanation for the resilience of the Syrian authoritarian regime under Hafez and Bashar Al-Asad. It will be argued that this resilience is to a relevant extent caused by the fact that the regime's 'material' as well as 'ideational' forms of power share a common element, if not an underlying principle. This generates their compatibility and congruency and thus produces a convergence of forces which manifests in the regime's ability to exceed the mere sum of its individual forms of power. It will be demonstrated that this common principle can be conceptualized as a 'tacit pact' between unequal parties, with the weaker party under constant threat of exclusion and/or coercion in the event of noncompliance. It will be argued that inherent in the pact is a high level of ambiguity; this, paradoxically, renders it more effective but at the same time also more instable as a tool of domination.

Suggested Citation

  • Büchs, Annette, 2009. "The Resilience of Authoritarian Rule in Syria under Hafez and Bashar Al-Asad," GIGA Working Papers 97, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:gigawp:97
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mitchell, Timothy, 1991. "The Limits of the State: Beyond Statist Approaches and their Critics," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 85(1), pages 77-96, March.
    2. Bendix, John & Sparrow, Bartholomew H. & Ollman, Bertell & Mitchell, Timothy, 1992. "Going Beyond the State?," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 86(4), pages 1007-1021, December.
    3. Kato, Junko, 1996. "Institutions and Rationality in Politics – Three Varieties of Neo-Institutionalists," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 26(4), pages 553-582, October.
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