Why Assad is Expanding the Baath Party’s Influence
Power to the party, not the presidency
Power to the party, not the presidency
Lebanon’s catastrophe gives Damascus leverage at home and abroad
Syria’s PYD conference made unusual changes to party policy
Russia hoped that its 2015 intervention would turn the tide on its declining influence in the region
The Syrian regime has dealt cautiously with the concept of decentralization since the revolution in 2011
The Syrian regime is changing the way it recruits to its army, depleted by years of war, desertions and the failures of the conscription and reserve models.
The regime’s aversion to civil society has a new address.
The regime revamps its image with party and parliamentary reforms
Sovereign sukuk are another attempt to plug a gaping deficit
Damascus wants to cut subsidies and control international aid.
Efforts to restore the sector face enormous challenges.
The regime continues blocking efforts to advance the political process