"Despite the regime’s success in weakening or crushing the organized political, civil and union organizations, the revolution burst forth, as the Syrians’ yearning for freedom, justice and the rule law and for an end to corruption could not be suppressed any more. We believe there are two reasons, both deeply rooted in history: First, the dictatorship and its corruption with all the generalized suppression of any independent political activity or thought; the horror which constantly haunts Syria’s citizens whenever they deal with political issues in their private and public life; the rule on the basis of decrees and orders, which are often given orally and violate the written law; the exceptions from law for those who are loyal to the regime. The wealth of society has been under control of the regime and its cronies. This is what created the feeling of discrimination at the base of the social pyramid: getting stripped of the most basic civil rights, such as the right to employment, housing, travelling abroad, etc. Meanwhile at the pyramid’s peak, there have been scandalous corruption cases around big deals and investments. Second, the economic policies of liberalization for private capital adopted since the early 1990s. Under the pressure of the World Bank and other international financial institutions, the doors for Arab and foreign capital were opened. After 2000, these policies were further accelerated. The role of the state in the economy receded in favour of private capital. A new partnership between the new economic elites close to the ruling power and Arab and international capital developed. This opening, however, has been selective and sometimes even random. As these changes began to accumulate, the productive sectors were weakened. These structural deformations of the Syrian economy, which already present before, increased dependence on the world market. This came to the detriment of the lower and middle classes, who before had least to a certain extent secure employment and state welfare. Unemployment soared. All that harmed also the sector of capitalists who are not linked to the ruling power. The escalation of class differentiation resulted in the development of elites with fantastic wealth and unprecedented luxury, whereas the living standard of the middle and lower segments declined sharply. Those two factors have been amplified by the climate provided by Arab spring."
Posted on: Thu, 19 Sep 2013 13:09:48 +0000