Syria is a place of residence to one of the oldest known cultures, with a thriving creative and cultural legacy. The development of writing occurred in southwestern Mesopotamia, maybe about 3000 BCE, with the alphabet becoming an original pictorial character that evolved subsequently into Sumerian (Shoup). From its ancient origins to current political turmoil and the Syrian Civil War, the nation has a complicated and, at times, violent past. Syria, a country in history on the Mediterranean Sea’s coast, is one of the most anciently populated areas on the planet. Syria was colonized and governed by various empires throughout history. Syria was a location mentioned frequently in the Bible. Syria has a traditional culture with a lengthy history. Family, religion, schooling, consciousness, and tolerance are all valued. In and around the ancient city of Ebla, archaeologists have uncovered significant inscriptions and indications of a society rivalling those of Iraq and Egypt.
Economics
The Syrian economy has subsequently been reshaped by massive damage and geographical fragmentation as a result of the country’s loss of state sovereignty in various places. This dispersion has resulted in the formation of multiple war economies,’ with a variety of local and international entities engaging in their processes. The primary industrial goods are oil, fabrics, food manufacturing, drinks, cigarettes, rock phosphate extraction, concrete, oil crops processing, and vehicle assembling. The government-dominated Syria’s industrial base until the 1990s, when market policies allowed for more participation by local and international private enterprises (Donati). As the density of the war decreases, emerging business deformations within the structure of rebuilding will be the most likely option through which the backed government and crony corporatists will centralize their economic and political power and dominance over Syrian society while rewarding foreign supporters with a share of the market in exchange for their guidance.
Politics
Syrian Arabic Republic politics take place within the context of a semi-presidential republic with multilateral participation. Under a long-standing national emergency, the presidency enjoyed vast and unfettered decree power until the early phases of the Syrian revolt (Hinnebusch). The lifting of the state of emergency was a strong demand of the revolt, and directives must now be approved by the People’s Council, the nation’s parliament. Syria is a unified multiparty country with one parliamentary session; the president is the head of state and is required by law to be a Muslim. The legal system is based mainly on Islamic law. The land that is currently part of Syria’s country has been populated for thousands of years. Syria is considered a republic. In actuality, it is an authoritarian dictatorship that only pretends to be a democratic society. Individuals do not have the right to alter their government, despite the fact that they may choose for the Presidents and parliament members.
Geographics
Syria is located near the eastern side of the Mediterranean Coast and at the northernmost tip of the African River Valleys. Syria’s three main settlements, Damascus, Homs, and Aleppo, are situated in the north of the rift’s mountainous backbone. The Syrian Desert, with its historic paradise of Palmyra, lies to the east. The Anatolian Mountains in the northeast act as a physical barrier separating Syria and Turkey, as well as Syria and Iraq. The Jazira Valley, which is nourished by the Euphrates River and serves as Syria’s grain heartland, is located here. Syria’s oil resources are also in this region.
Works Cited
Donati, Caroline. “2. The Economics of Authoritarian Upgrading in Syria: Liberalization and the Reconfiguration of Economic Networks.” Middle East Authoritarianism. Stanford University Press, 2020. 35-60.
Hinnebusch, Raymond. “The politics of economic liberalization: Comparing Egypt and Syria.” The State and Global Change. Routledge, 2020. 111-134.
Shoup, John A. The history of Syria. ABC-CLIO, 2018.