Bashar Assad: How a novice eye doctor and his minority family ruled Sunni-majority Syria for half a century

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Syria, which lasted for more than half a century, has come to a dramatic end after a decade-long bloody civil war. Rebel forces breached the regime’s seat of power in Damascus, prompting President Bashar al-Assad, an ophthalmologist, to flee. This marks the collapse of the Assad family's long-standing rule over the country.

A Legacy Built by Assad's Father Hafez al-Assad

Hafez al-Assad, the architect of modern Syria, came to power through a coup on November 13, 1970. At a time when Syria was plagued by political instability and frequent coups, Hafez, an Alawite, rose to prominence as the commander of the Syrian Air Force and Minister of Defence. His strategy of divide-and-rule, exploiting Syria's ethnic and religious divisions, helped him consolidate power. Hafez elevated the Alawite minority, traditionally marginalized, to key positions in the military and government, ensuring their loyalty and reinforcing his control.

Under his regime, Syria experienced significant political shifts. The Alawite community, making up around 12-15 percent of Syria’s population, became the primary support base of the Assad regime. This loyalty was partly due to the opportunities Hafez provided to the Alawites, particularly within the military and security services.

Bashar al-Assad’s Inherited Rule

After Hafez’s death in 2000, his son Bashar, a relatively inexperienced ophthalmologist, assumed the presidency. Initially, there were hopes that Bashar would introduce reforms, but these hopes quickly faded as he inherited his father’s