Syrian Protests; A Lost Cause or the Growing Pains of Democracy?

"  Democracy is the only system that persists in asking the powers that be whether they are the powers that ought to be" - Sydney J. Harris

President Bashar al-Assad of Syria meeting with supporters

            Mounting violence in Syria seems to be of no strife to president Bashar al-Assad as he gave his third presidential address in the wake of the recent protests sprouting up across the country. Thousands of Syrians have filled the streets, demanding his resignation and the reforms they desire be met by the government. In response government security forces have maimed, tortured, and killed hundreds of peaceful protesters in an attempt to silence the dissidents. It is said about 10,000 refugees have already flooded the bordering state of Turkey and the number keeps climbing. 

Thousands of refugees have flooded into bordering Turkey for refuge
from vicious security forces attempting to quell protests

      The Assad family has held power in Syria for over four decades beginning with Bashar al-Assad's father, Hafez al-Assad, who took power in 1971. Although he made many modern reforms such as opening the country up to foreign markets, investment in infrastructure, education, medicine, and granting women equal status through the 1973 constitution, his rule was criticized for his political oppression. In 1982 the Syrian army was ordered by then president al-Assad to enter the town of Hama where a revolt was taking place by Sunni Muslims who vehemently opposed the al-Assad regime. There is no exact figure for how many Sunni Muslims were killed in the event but differing reports have the number up to 40,000 casualties perpetrated by the Syrian army against the political opposition. This left a stain on Hafez al-Assad's presidency and he was from then on seen by his people as a vicious authoritarian who did not enjoy competition for his political power. After Hafez's death in 2000, his son Bashar al-Assad succeeded him as president of Syria. The image of Hafez al-Assad as a political tyrant carried on to his son, who father like son, prosecuted, tortured, intimidated and executed the political opposition into exile.
        Now after the Assad family's reign over the country for over four decades, idealistic minded reformers seek amendments to Syria's 40 year old constitution, which limits civil liberties and guarantees Bashar al-Assad's Baath Party a monopoly on political power. It's the freedom of assembly, the freedom of speech, and all rights and freedoms that make up a flourishing democracy that protestors are calling for. In the face of harsh opposition President Assad claimed the government would repeal the martial law which outlaws peaceful demonstrations. This was a facade, as all the reforms promised by president al-Assad have either been lack luster of non-existent. The people of Syria seem to have had enough of the al-Assad family and their political rights denied by the authoritarian regime.

         The al-Assad family's defiance gives creed to the theory that dictators who remain resilient in the face of political unrest can actually hold onto power. President Ahmadinejad did just that after the uprising that was perpetrated by the Green Movement in both 2009. Even in recent months Iranian protesters took to the streets, only to have them beaten back into silence by the Revolutionary Guard. Once again Iran's streets fell silent. The same happened in Burma under Than Shwe in 2008, where it is said thousands of people were killed and arrested after mass protests shook the country. Among the dead were a hundred monks, the most holiest and pious of people, adding insult to injury. When Ghaddafi threatened to do the same thing as his political parallels in power have done he was met with opposition from the entirety of the international community. NATO and UN troops were sent in to aid the opposition forces who sought to unseat the Libyan dictator.       

        What is happening in Syria is no different than what would have happened in Libya, but the reaction from the international community has differed as almost nobody has threatened to intervene in the conflict. The closest thing we've gotten to a reaction was a statement from president Obama- "This outrageous use of violence to quell protests must come to an end now". His words, as noble as they are, mean little as hundreds of people are still being intimidated, arrested, tortured and killed. 
         Syria's alliance with Iran has proven to be fruitful for Syria, as the United States or any of the western powers won't intervene for fear of Iran's wrath. The response from Iran that frightens western powers is not necessarily directed at the western powers themselves, but one of the few allies in the region; Israel. If the United States were to send ground troops or reinforcement to the opposition in Syria, Iran would immediately denounce the foreign intervention and would most likely begin by attacking Israel, the closest target Iran can reach. President Ahmadinejad is looking for any excuse to attack Israel, and the invasion of an Iranian ally whose interests are likewise to Iran's would certainly be a moment for the regime in Iran to monopolize.

Protesters in the streets of Syria, demanding for the resignation of president
Bashar al-Assad

        With all this being said, this crisis has President Assad's legitimacy as president gasping for air. Legitimacy to rule over a mass of people is the key to a successful dictatorship. The regime may use brute force, intimidation tactics, economic incentives or even patronage to those who align themselves with the party, but eventually the calls for true democracy and freedom will outweigh whatever privileges or benefits president Assad wants to claim are on the way. Without popular support or belief in his right to rule, president Assad may soon meet the fate of other Arab leaders like Mubarak or Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali.

        Let's not be so optimistic though, there are those dictators who have managed to keep power behind the veil of patriotism and democracy. Worse than the facade of democracy is the overt use of brute force to maintain rule over a population. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Than Shwe, Kim Jong Il, and the alike have all learned that if you have enough guns, you can force, intimidate, and murder the opposition into exile. In a perfect world the former would overtake the latter, but usually this is not so. For now the Syrian people and those oppressed around the world will remain in their current situations unless something drastic is done. 
        It's the freedom to say and do as one pleases without fear of an overly intrusive entity, a 'big brother' of sorts watching your every move that people around the world have fought and died for. While the number of dictatorships around the world have declined in recent years, those that remain have proven to be the worst of the worst. It's a moral high ground that democracies and free nations around the world must follow in order to combat this threat to global peace. Although it may seem for now nothing will stop these dictators from keeping their grip on power, time is running out. It's only so long that a regime can hold power before it crumbles. Once the legitimacy to rule is tarnished there is no going back. Al-Assad may have the upper hand for now, but there's no gun, army, or force powerful enough to kill the idea that Syria's citizens are fighting for.

Signing Out- John Thomas

Sources

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/22/syria-protests-obama-says-violence-must-end-now_n_852808.html