102 Notable Ideas and Terms

Hafez al-Assad

Syrian president from 1971 to 2000 who established an authoritarian regime centered on the Ba'ath Party and Alawite elite control.

Bashar al-Assad

Succeeded his father in 2000; continued authoritarian rule, using brutal tactics to suppress dissent and preserve regime power.

Maher Arar

Canadian engineer wrongly detained by the U.S. in 2002 and sent to Syria, where he was tortured; his case became a symbol of extraordinary rendition abuses.

Hamah massacre of 1982

A violent crackdown by Hafez al-Assad’s forces on Islamist insurgents in Hama, killing thousands and crushing opposition.

Syrian leadership succession of 2000

After Hafez’s death, his son Bashar al-Assad assumed power, signaling regime continuity rather than reform.

Experience of Maher Arar in US and Syrian custody

Arrested by U.S. authorities post-9/11, sent to Syria under rendition, and tortured before being released without charges.

Ethnic demography of Syria

A diverse mix of Arabs, Kurds, Alawites, Christians, and Druze; the regime relied heavily on the Alawite minority for loyalty.

Political system of Syria 1970–2024

A one-party authoritarian state dominated by the Ba’ath Party and the Assad family, with limited political freedoms.

General Syrian-US relations during 1981–2010

Marked by tension and mistrust over terrorism, Israel, and Lebanon, with occasional cooperation on security issues.

State Sponsors of Terrorism (SSTs) list

A U.S. list designating nations that support terrorism; Syria was added in 1979 for backing groups like Hezbollah.

Reasons for tension between Washington and Damascus

U.S. objections to Syria’s support for militant groups, ties with Iran, and opposition to U.S. Middle East policies.

Constraints on US intervention options

Syria’s alliances with Russia and Iran, along with regional instability, limited U.S. willingness for direct action.

Post-9/11 security cooperation

Despite tensions, the U.S. and Syria briefly cooperated on intelligence sharing against terrorism after the 9/11 attacks.

The Fifth Amendment of the US Constitution

Guarantees due process and protection against self-incrimination, central to Arar’s legal claims of rights violations.

Arar v. Ashcroft (legal case)

Maher Arar sued U.S. officials for his rendition and torture, but courts dismissed the case, citing national security and immunity issues.