Syria’s ruling Baath party is considering a renewal process to meet a growing gap between the socialist nature of the regime and the market-oriented reality on the ground, observers say. …
Challenged by a fall in oil production and growing unemployment, Syria has adopted many steps in the past few years to shift from being a state-controlled economy into a more market-oriented one. Several laws were set to open the country to private banks and foreign investments as well as liberalize trade and privatize some industries. A stock market was established earlier this year for the first time in the country’s history.
Some observers say that the Baath party has become dominated by a class of businessmen who have been pushing for the liberalization of the economy. Ayman Abdulnor, a reformist Baath member and the chief editor of the pro-government website all4Syria, said that economic laws were being changed to suit “the sons of powerful people and prominent party individuals.”
The Baath party is based on a hierarchal system with the National Command representing the highest authority. … For decades, the party has managed to maintain its grip over the country by using the powerful security services. Many say that the party needed to modernize its structure because it has become burdened by the size and inefficiency of the state’s institutions. “Every decision, every appointment of any small employee needs the approval of the Baath party,” said Abdulnor, adding that this process has exhausted the party and led to bureaucracy and corruption. Access the full article>>
