Civil War in Syria: The Modern-Day Conflict That Has Left More Than 400,000 People Dead

The Syrian uprising that began in March 2011 emerged from decades of authoritarian rule, economic inequality, and social tensions that had been suppressed but never resolved under the iron grip of the Assad family dynasty. Bashar al-Assad had inherited power from his father Hafez al-Assad in 2000, inheriting along with it a complex web of sectarian divisions, economic challenges, and regional conflicts that would ultimately contribute to the devastating civil war that followed. The younger Assad had initially raised hopes for reform and modernization, but his rule quickly demonstrated the same authoritarian characteristics that had defined his father's brutal three-decade reign.

The structure of Syrian society under Assad rule was built upon a careful balance of sectarian interests that favored the Alawite minority while managing the Sunni majority through a combination of patronage, repression, and divide-and-rule tactics. The Assad family's Alawite sect comprised only about twelve percent of Syria's population, but they dominated key positions in the military, intelligence services, and government bureaucracy, creating a system of minority rule that generated resentment among the Sunni majority. This sectarian imbalance was masked by the secular rhetoric of the ruling Baath Party, but beneath the surface lay deep communal tensions that would explode into open conflict once the regime's control began to weaken.

Economic grievances played a crucial role in creating the conditions for revolution as Syria's socialist economy struggled to provide opportunities for a growing population while benefits flowed disproportionately to regime cronies and well-connected families. The liberalization policies implemented in the 2000s had dismantled some state protections for the poor while creating new opportunities for corruption and crony capitalism that enriched Assad's allies. Rural areas were particularly affected by economic changes, as agricultural subsidies were reduced and drought conditions worsened the situation for farmers who had already been struggling with declining incomes and limited access to credit and markets.