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Encyclopedia > Ba'ath Arab Socialist Party
Ba'ath Party flag
Ba'ath Party flag

The Ba‘ath Parties (also spelled Baath or Ba‘th; Arabic: اﻟﺒﻌﺚ) comprise political parties representing the political face of the Ba‘ath movement. The original Ba‘ath Party functioned as a pan-Arab party with branches in different Arab countries. In 1966 the Party split into two, one branch based in Syria and the other in Iraq. Both Ba‘ath parties maintain parallel structures in the Arab world. Arabic is a Semitic language, closely related to Hebrew and Aramaic. ... A political party is a political organization that subscribes to a certain ideology and seeks to attain political power within a government. ... Pan-Arabism is a movement for unification among the Arab peoples and nations of the Middle East. ... -1... The Syrian Arab Republic or Syria is a country in the Middle East, bordering (from south to north) on Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Turkey. ... The Republic of Iraq is a Middle Eastern country in southwestern Asia encompassing the ancient region of Mesopotamia at the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. ...


The Ba‘ath Party came to power in Syria on 8 March 1963 and has remained influential ever since; the Ba‘athists ruled Iraq from February 1963 until 2003. After the de facto deposition of President Saddam Hussein's Ba‘athist régime in the course of the 2003 Iraq war, the occupying authorities banned the Iraqi Ba‘ath Party in June 2003. The Syrian Arab Republic or Syria is a country in the Middle East, bordering (from south to north) on Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Turkey. ... March 8 is the 67th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (68th in Leap years). ... Events January-February January 11 - The Whisky A Go-Go night club in Los Angeles, the first disco in the USA, is opened. ... The Republic of Iraq is a Middle Eastern country in southwestern Asia encompassing the ancient region of Mesopotamia at the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. ... 2003 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar, and also: The International Year of Freshwater The European Disability Year Events January January 1 - Luíz Inácio Lula Da Silva becomes the 37th President of Brazil. ... Saddam Hussein Saddām Hussein ʻAbd al-Majīd al-Tikrītī (Often spelled Husayn or Hussain; Arabic صدام حسين عبدالمجيد التكريتي; born April 28, 1937 1) was President of Iraq from 1979 to 2003. ... The neutrality and accuracy of this article are disputed. ... June is the sixth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four with the length of 30 days. ... 2003 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar, and also: The International Year of Freshwater The European Disability Year Events January January 1 - Luíz Inácio Lula Da Silva becomes the 37th President of Brazil. ...


The Arabic word Ba‘ath means 'rebirth'. Ba‘athist beliefs combine Arab Socialism, militarism, nationalism, and Pan-Arabism. The mostly secular ideology often contrasts with that of other Arab governments in the Middle East, which sometimes tend to have leanings towards Islamism and theocracy. Arabic is a Semitic language, closely related to Hebrew and Aramaic. ... Arab Socialism (ar. ... Militarism is the ideology that military strength is the source of all security. ... Nationalism is an ideology that creates and sustains a nation as a concept of a common identity for groups of humans. ... Pan-Arabism is a movement for unification among the Arab peoples and nations of the Middle East. ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... Islamism is a political ideology derived from the conservative religious views of Muslim fundamentalism. ... Theocracy is a form of government in which a religion and the government are allied. ...


The motto of the Party is Wahdah, Hurriyah, Ishtirrakiyah means "Unity, Freedom, Socialism". 'Unity' refers to pan-Arab unity, 'Freedom' emphasizes freedom from Western interests in particular, and 'Socialism' specifically references Arab Socialism. For alternative meanings for The West in the United States, see the U.S. West and American West. ... Arab Socialism (ar. ...

Contents

Origins

Ba‘ath Party symbol
Ba‘ath Party symbol

Both the Syrian and the Iraqi Ba‘ath parties originated in the Ba‘ath movement, an Arab political movement which started in the early 20th century, founded by Syrian thinkers: most notably Michel Aflaq. Two other major proponents of early Ba‘athist ideology, Zaki al-Arsuzi and Salah al-Din al-Bitar, like Michel Aflaq, had careers as middle-class educators, influenced in their political thought by Western education. Many early Ba‘athists also professed Christianity. The movement also found support among the more republican wing of Iraqi soldiers in the British and later in the Hashemite services. Baath Party symbol This is a copyrighted and/or trademarked logo. ... Arab (disambiguation). ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the... Michel ‘Aflaq (1910 - June 23, 1989) was the ideological founder of Ba’athism, a form of Arab nationalism. ... Salah al-Din al-Bitar ( 1911), a Sunni Muslim, co-founder of the Bath Party in Syria. ... Christianity is an Abrahamic religion based on the life, teachings, death by crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth as described in the New Testament. ... The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country in western Europe, and member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the G8, the European Union, and NATO. Usually known simply as the United Kingdom, the UK, or (inaccurately) as Great Britain or Britain, the UK has four constituent... The name of this Arab dynasty should not be confused with Hashem one of the names for God in Judaism Hashemite traditionally refers to those belonging to the Banu Hashim, or clan of Hashim, a clan within the larger Quraish tribe. ...


The Ba‘ath Arab Socialist Party was officially founded at its first party congress, held in Damascus, April 7, 1947. This is about Damascus, the capital of Syria. ... April 7 is the 97th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (98th in leap years). ... 1947 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ...


The early party formed in opposition to both French colonial rule and to the older generation of Syrian Arab nationalists, and advocated instead Pan-Arab unity and Arab nationalism. Its constitution blended non-Marxist socialism and nationalism. The early Syrian Ba‘athists opposed the influence of Europe in their country's affairs, and used nationalism and the notion of unifying the Arab world as a platform. Ba‘athists always claimed to speak for the entire Arab nation and the progress of the masses, though the party remained extremely small, factional and often reliant on nationalist radicals in the militaries. However, its influence quickly spread to other Arab countries by 1954-58, and branches formed in Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon. The French Republic or France (French: République française or France) is a country whose metropolitan territory is located in western Europe, and which is further made up of a collection of overseas islands and territories located in other continents. ... Pan-Arabism is a movement for unification among the Arab peoples and nations of the Middle East. ... Arab nationalism is a nationalist ideology in Arab world. ... An organizations constitution defines its form, structure, activities, character, and fundamental rules. ... Marxism is the political practice and social theory based on the works of Karl Marx, a 19th century German philosopher, economist, journalist, and revolutionary, along with Friedrich Engels. ... The Republic of Iraq is a Middle Eastern country in southwestern Asia encompassing the ancient region of Mesopotamia at the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. ... The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, commonly called Jordan, is a country in the Middle East. ... The Lebanese Republic or Lebanon is a country in the Middle East, along the Mediterranean Sea, bordered by Syria and Israel. ...


The Syria-based Ba‘ath Party

The Ba‘ath party from the beginning intended to win power through peaceful means. The first success came in Syria, where the party became an important force, but dissolved itself upon the formation of the United Arab Republic (1958) in support of the new Nasserist government. After the break up of the United Arab Republic in 1961 the party and its ideology came under the wing of a group of military figures who plotted to overthrow the government and used some Ba‘athist ideology to justify their military rule. The United Arab Republic (UAR) was a country that existed as a union between the republics of Egypt and Syria between 1958 and 1961; though Egypt continued to be known as the UAR until 1970. ... Gamal Abdel Nasser (Arabic: جمال عبد الناصر) Gamal Abdel Nasser (January 15, 1918 - September 28, 1970) was the second President of Egypt after Muhammad Naguib and is considered one of the most important Arab leaders in history. ...


The military coup came in 1963, and it brought the Ba‘ath Party to power in Syria. The new government promptly began a course of large-scale nationalization. From 1963, the Ba‘ath functioned as the only legal Syrian political party, but factionalism and splintering within the party led to a succession of governments and new constitutions. In 1966 a military junta representing the more radical elements in the party displaced the more moderate wing in power, purging from the party its original founders, Michel Aflaq and Bitar. A coup détat, or simply a coup, is the sudden overthrow of a government, usually done by a small group that just replaces the top power figures. ... The Syrian Arab Republic or Syria is a country in the Middle East, bordering (from south to north) on Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Turkey. ... Nationalization is the act of taking assets into state ownership. ... There are a number of things that junta (hUn-tah) could refer to: It can be a military dictatorship. ...


At this juncture the Syrian Ba‘ath party split into two factions: the "progressive" faction, led by Nureddin Atassi, which gave priority to neo-Marxist economic reform, and the so-called nationalist group, led by General Hafez al-Assad. Assad's following had less interest in socialism, favoring a militant posture on the Arab union and hostility toward Israel. Despite constant maneuvering and government changes, the two factions remained in an uneasy coalition of power until 1970, when, in another coup, Assad succeeded in ousting Atassi as prime minister. Assad, one of the longest-ruling leaders of the modern Middle East, remained at Syria's political helm until his death in 2000, when his son Bashar al Assad succeeded him as President. Hafez al-Assad (October 6, 1930 - June 10, 2000) was the President of Syria from 1971 to 2000. ... The color red and particularly the red flag are traditional symbols of Socialism. ... The State of Israel (Hebrew: מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, transliteration: ; Arabic: دَوْلَةْ اِسْرَائِيل, transliteration: ) is a country in the Middle East on the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea. ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... 2000 is a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Bashar al_Assad Bashar al_Assad (بشار الاسد) (born September 11, 1965) is the current President of Syria and the son of former President Hafez al-Assad. ...


Today the Ba‘ath Party in Syria has little to do with its founding ideology. It has made little progress towards Arab unity, and has all but abandoned its commitment to socialism. For decades, Ba‘athism has served merely as a justification for the military dictatorship in that country.


The Syria-based Ba‘ath Party has branches in Lebanon, Yemen, Jordan, Sudan, Iraq (currently split into two factions), etc., although none of the non-Syrian branches have any major strength. Palestinians know their local Syria-based Ba‘ath Party as as-Saiqa (the Thunderbolt). The Lebanese Republic or Lebanon is a country in the Middle East, along the Mediterranean Sea, bordered by Syria and Israel. ... The Republic of Yemen is a country in the Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asia, and is a part of the Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Red Sea, between Oman and Saudi Arabia. ... The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, commonly called Jordan, is a country in the Middle East. ... The Republic of the Sudan, or Republic of Sudan (in recent years the definite article has increasingly been dropped in common usage) is the largest country in Africa, situated in the northeast part of the continent. ... The Republic of Iraq is a Middle Eastern country in southwestern Asia encompassing the ancient region of Mesopotamia at the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. ... The term Palestine may refer to: Palestine: A geographical region in the Middle East, centered on Jerusalem. ...


The Iraq-based Ba‘ath Party

Iraqi and Syrian Ba‘athism today differ widely and partially oppose each other, though they only split a long time after their creation. They share one common feature in that under Saddam Hussein Iraq also moved away from Ba‘athist principles.


History

In Iraq the Ba‘ath party remained a civilian group and lacked strong support within the military. The party had little impact, and the movement split into several factions after 1958 and again in 1966. It lacked strong popular support, but through the construction of a strong party apparatus the party succeeded in gaining power.


The Ba‘athists first came to power in the coup of February, 1963, when Abdul Salam Arif became president. Interference from the Syrian Ba‘athists and disputes between the moderates and extremists, culminating in an attempted coup by the latter in November, 1963, served to discredit the extremists. However, the moderates continued to play a major role in the succeeding non-Ba‘athist governments. Abdul Salam Arif (1921, Baghdad - April 13, 1966), president of Iraq (1963-1966). ...


In July, 1968, a bloodless coup brought to power the Ba‘athist general Ahmad Hassan al-Bakr. Wranglings within the party continued, and the government periodically purged its dissident members. Saddam Hussein eventually succeeded al-Bakr in 1979 and ruled Iraq until 2003. Although almost all the Ba‘athist leadership had no military background, under Hussein the party changed dramatically and became heavily militarized, with its leading members frequently appearing in uniform. General Ahmed Hassan al_Bakr (July 1, 1914 _ October 4, 1982) was President of Iraq from 1968 to 1979. ... In history and political science, to purge is to remove undesirable people from a government, political party, profession, or from community/society as a whole, usually by violent means. ... Saddam Hussein Saddām Hussein ʻAbd al-Majīd al-Tikrītī (Often spelled Husayn or Hussain; Arabic صدام حسين عبدالمجيد التكريتي; born April 28, 1937 1) was President of Iraq from 1979 to 2003. ... The Republic of Iraq is a Middle Eastern country in southwestern Asia encompassing the ancient region of Mesopotamia at the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. ...


Structure

The Party cell or circle, composed of three to seven members, constitutes the basic organisational unit of the Iraqi Ba‘ath Party. Cells functioned at the neighborhood or village level, where members would meet to discuss and execute party directives introduced from above. Since individual cells had little contact with one another, those higher up could vigorously enforce party loyalties from the top down. As the U.S. and its allies discovered in Iraq in 2003, cell organization also made the Party highly resilient.


A Party division comprised two to seven cells, controlled by a division commander. Such Ba‘athist cells occurred throughout the bureaucracy and the military, where they functioned as the Party's watchdog, an effective form of covert surveillance within a public administration.


A Party section, which comprised two to five divisions, functioned at the level of a large city quarter, a town, or a rural district.


The branch came above the sections; it comprised at least two sections, and operated at the provincial level.


The Party congress, which combined all the branches, elected the regional command as the core of the Party leadership and top decision-making mechanism.


The national command of the Ba‘ath Party ranked over the regional command. It formed the highest policy-making and coordinating council for the Ba‘ath movement throughout the Arab world at large.


Post-Saddam

In June 2003, the US-led occupying forces in Iraq banned the Ba‘ath party. Some criticize the additional step the US took -- of banning all members of the Ba‘ath party from the new government, as well as from public schools and colleges -- as blocking too many people from participation in the new government. Several teachers have lost their jobs, causing protests and demonstrations at schools and universities. Under the previous rule of the Ba‘ath party, one could not reach high positions in the government or in the schools without becoming a party member. This article deals with the post-invasion period in Iraq and its occupation. ... The term public school has two contrary meanings: In England, one of a small number of prestigious historic schools open to the public which normally charge fees and are financed by bodies other than the state, commonly as private charitable trusts; here the word public is used much as in... A college ( Latin collegium) can be the name of any group of colleagues; originally it meant a group of people living together under a common set of rules (con-, together + leg-, law). As a consequence members of colleges were originally styled fellows and still are in some places. ... A school is most commonly a place designated for learning. ... A university is an institution of higher education and of research, which grants academic degrees. ...


The party outside of Iraq

The Iraq-based Ba‘ath Party had branches in various Arab countries, such as Lebanon and Jordan. After the fall of the Saddam government, many branches have distanced themselves from the central party, such as the branches in Yemen and Sudan. The Lebanese Republic or Lebanon is a country in the Middle East, along the Mediterranean Sea, bordered by Syria and Israel. ... The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, commonly called Jordan, is a country in the Middle East. ... The Republic of Yemen is a country in the Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asia, and is a part of the Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Red Sea, between Oman and Saudi Arabia. ...


The branch amongst the Palestinians bears the name of Jabhat al-Tahrir al-'Arabiyah (the Arab Liberation Front, or ALF). ALF formed the major Palestian political faction in Iraq during the Saddam years. The term Palestine may refer to: Palestine: A geographical region in the Middle East, centered on Jerusalem. ... The Republic of Iraq is a Middle Eastern country in southwestern Asia encompassing the ancient region of Mesopotamia at the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. ...


In Bahrain Rasul al-Jaishy leads the pro-Ba‘ath Nationalist Democratic Rally Society (Jami'at al-Tajammu' al-Qawmi al-Dimuqrati). The Kingdom of Bahrain, or Bahrain (occasionally spelt Bahrein), is a borderless island nation in the Persian Gulf (Southwest Asia/Middle East, Asia). ...


An Iraq-oriented Ba‘ath Party branch formerly existed in Syria, which the Syrian government severely repressed. The Syrian Arab Republic or Syria is a country in the Middle East, bordering (from south to north) on Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Turkey. ...


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