Ba'ath Party facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arab Socialist Baʿth Party
حزب البعث العربي الاشتراكي
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| Secretary-General | Michel Aflaq (1954–65) Munif Razzaz (1965–66) |
| Founders | Michel Aflaq Salah al-Din al-Bitar |
| Founded | 7 April 1947 |
| Dissolved | 23 February 1966 |
| Merger of | Arab Ba'ath Arab Ba'ath Movement Arab Socialist Movement |
| Succeeded by | Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Iraq Region and Ba'ath Party (Iraqi-dominated faction) Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region and Ba'ath Party (Syrian-dominated faction) |
| Newspaper | Al-Ba'ath |
| Ideology | Ba'athism Revolutionary socialism |
| Political position | Left-wing |
| Colors | Black Green Red (Pan-Arab colors) |
| Slogan | "Unity, Freedom, Socialism" "Long Live The Arabs" |
| Party flag | |
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The Arab Socialist Baʿth Party was a political group started in Syria. It was founded by Michel Aflaq, Salah al-Din al-Bitar, and others. The word Baʿth (pronounced "Ba-ath") means 'resurrection' or 'rebirth' in Arabic.
This party believed in an idea called Ba'athism. This idea mixed Arab nationalism (a strong feeling of pride in being Arab), pan-Arabism (the idea of uniting all Arab countries), and Arab socialism (a unique type of socialism for Arab nations). It also stood against imperialism (when one country controls another). Baʿathism wanted to unite the entire Arab world into one big country. Its main slogan was "Unity, Liberty, Socialism". This meant Arab unity, freedom from outside control, and a special kind of socialism.
The party began on April 7, 1947, when two groups, the Arab Ba'ath Movement and the Arab Ba'ath, joined together. It quickly grew and opened branches in other Arab countries. However, it only managed to gain power in Iraq and Syria. In 1952, the Arab Baʿth Party merged with another group, the Arab Socialist Movement. This created the Arab Socialist Baʿth Party. The new party became quite successful. In the 1954 election, it was the second-largest party in the Syrian parliament.
Later, Syria and Egypt decided to unite and form the United Arab Republic (UAR) in 1958. This union did not last long, and a Syrian coup ended it in 1961. After the UAR broke up, the Baʿth Party started again. However, military leaders began to take more control of the party. In Iraq, the local Ba'ath Party branch briefly took power in the Ramadan Revolution but lost it a few months later. In Syria, the military part of the Ba'ath Party took power in the 8th of March Revolution in 1963.
Soon, a struggle for power began between the civilian leaders, like Aflaq, and the military leaders. This led to the 1966 Syrian coup d'état which removed Aflaq and his supporters from power. This event caused the Ba'ath Party to split into two main groups: one led by Iraq and one led by Syria.
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The Ba'ath Party: A Look at Its History
The Arab Ba'ath Party was officially formed on April 7, 1947, in Damascus, Syria. Its main founders were Michel Aflaq (a Christian), Salah al-Din al-Bitar (a Muslim), and followers of Zaki al-Arsuzi. Soon after, other branches of the party were set up in countries like Iraq, Yemen, and Jordan. Even though the party had a main leadership group for all Arab affairs, it often focused most of its attention on Syria.
In the 1954 Syrian elections, the Ba'ath Party became very important. It won 22 seats in parliament, making it the second-largest party in Syria. This success helped the party gain public trust. Because of its strong position, two Ba'ath Party members became government ministers. This new strength helped the party gain support for Syria to join with Egypt, forming the United Arab Republic (UAR) in 1958.
In 1959, some members, especially from the Iraqi branch, criticized the party's main leaders. They felt the leaders were not truly supporting Arab unity. This led to meetings where party members from different countries discussed their future.
The Ba'ath Party in Iraq
In Iraq, the Ba'ath Party branch first supported Abd al-Karim Qasim when he took power and ended the monarchy in 1958. They thought he would join Iraq with the UAR. But Qasim decided to focus only on Iraq, which disappointed the Ba'athists. They even tried to assassinate him in 1959, but it failed.
Later, in 1963, the Iraqi Ba'ath Party, led by Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr, successfully overthrew Qasim in the Ramadan Revolution. They put Abdul Salam Arif as President and al-Bakr as Prime Minister. However, the party was divided, and its own allies soon removed them from power in November 1963. This forced the party to operate secretly for a while.
Ba'ath Party Rule in Syria and the 1966 Split
In 1963, the Ba'ath Party took power in Syria. From then on, it was the only official political party. However, there were many disagreements and power struggles within the party itself. Some members, especially from the Iraqi branch, started to lean more towards Marxism.
In October 1963, a big meeting called the 6th National Congress took place. Here, the Iraqi and Syrian branches pushed for more socialist ideas. They wanted things like "socialist planning" and "collective farms" (where peasants work together on shared land). The original founder, Aflaq, was unhappy with these changes, but the more radical members gained control.
On February 23, 1966, a coup d'état happened in Syria, led by Salah Jadid. This coup removed Aflaq and other traditional leaders from power. Jadid's group was more left-wing and wanted to focus on Syria's own goals rather than just pan-Arab unity. This event caused the Ba'ath Party to split into two separate groups: one controlled by Syria and another by Iraq. Each group then had its own main leadership.
How the Ba'ath Party Was Organized
The Ba'ath Party had a strict way of organizing itself, like a pyramid. Members were only allowed to talk to people directly above or below them in the structure. They couldn't just talk to anyone at the same level.
National Leadership
At the very top was the National Command. This group was in charge of the entire party across all Arab countries. It was led by a Secretary-General. The National Command made the big decisions and policies for the whole Ba'ath movement. It also had different offices, like one for keeping in touch with all the local branches.
Regional Leadership
Below the National Command were the "regions." In Ba'ath Party language, a "region" meant an Arab country, like Syria or Iraq. Each region had its own Regional Congress, which was the highest authority for that country. This congress elected a Regional Command, which was the party's leadership in that specific country. They also chose a Regional Secretary, who was the leader of the party in that region.
Local Branches and Groups
Under the Regional Commands were "branches," which worked at the provincial level (like a state or large county). A branch would have its own leaders and secretary. Below branches were "sub-branches," and then "sections" (like a city neighborhood or town). The smallest unit was called a "circle," which had three to seven members. These small groups were found everywhere, even in government offices and the military. They acted like watchdogs for the party.
The military part of the party had its own organization, similar to the civilian side, but it was controlled by a separate Military Bureau. Both the military and civilian parts of the party came together at the Regional Congress.
Party Membership
There were three types of members in the Ba'ath Party:
- Active member: These members attended all meetings, could vote in party elections, and could run for party jobs.
- Apprentice Member: This was a step before becoming an active member.
- Supporter: This was the first level. In Syria, you had to be a Supporter for 18 months before becoming an Apprentice, and then another 18 months to become an Active member.
What the Ba'ath Party Believed In
The main ideas of the Ba'ath Party are called Ba'athism.
Early Ba'ath Ideas: 1947–1960
For a long time, Michel Aflaq's writings, especially his book "The Road to Renaissance," were the main source of Ba'athist ideas. From the start, the party was all about Arab nationalism. The first rule in the party's constitution said that "the Arabs form one nation" and have the right to live in "a single state."
Aflaq used the phrase "one Arab nation with an eternal message." This idea wasn't about race, but about the Arab nation being a lasting part of history. It believed that the Arab nation created great things, like Islam, and that Arabs could overcome problems through moral action.
Peasants and Workers
In its early days, the Ba'ath Party didn't focus much on the problems of farmers (peasants) and workers. Most of the early leaders came from middle-class backgrounds. When the party started, only one farmer and one worker were among the 217 people at the founding meeting. Most members were teachers or students. Later, as the party changed, it started to pay more attention to rural areas and the issues faced by peasants.
"Unity, Liberty, Socialism"
This slogan was the core of Ba'athist thought.
- Unity meant creating a strong, independent Arab Nation.
- Liberty meant freedom from colonial rule and the ability to speak and think freely. Aflaq believed the Ba'ath Party would guide the people during a transition period.
- Socialism was not like Western socialism. It was a unique form of Arab socialism that they believed started with Prophet Muhammad. This early idea of Arab socialism focused on freeing the Arab Nation from oppression, rather than just economic equality.
Changing Ideas: 1960–1964
After the United Arab Republic (UAR) broke up, the Ba'ath Party was divided. Some members, called "Regionalists," wanted to focus on their own countries. Others, called "Nationalists," still wanted to unite all Arab countries. The party struggled to decide if it still wanted to unite with Egypt.
The "Arab Road to Socialism"
Many party members became disappointed with the idea of pan-Arab unity. This led to a more radical view of socialism. Some members wanted to make Arab socialism more "scientific" and "revolutionary," mixing it with ideas from Marxism.
At the 6th National Congress in October 1963, a document called Points of Departure was approved. This document put socialism first and Arab unity second. It used some Marxist ideas, even if it didn't always say so directly. It talked about "people's democracy" and the need for a "socialist vanguard" (a leading group) to guide society. The document also criticized the old leaders for focusing too much on Arab unity and not enough on socialism. It said that Arab unity was important for building a "socialist economy."
The Points of Departure also changed the party's view on private property. Earlier, the party supported private ownership to attract middle-class members. Now, it called for the government to take control of major parts of the economy and slowly bring smaller businesses into the socialist system. It also wanted to remove the wealthy class.
Views on Religion
The Ba'ath Party's 1960 manifesto, "Declaration of Principles," emphasized a strong focus on secularism (keeping religion separate from government). It said the party's goal was to create a "new generation of Arabs" who believed in the nation's unity and were guided by "scientific thought," free from "superstition." It aimed to replace religion with Arab nationalism as the main belief system.
New Ba'ath Ideas: 1964–1966
"Neo-Ba'athism" refers to the big changes in Ba'athist ideas from 1960 to 1964, and when the Military Committee took control of the party in Syria. The 6th National Congress showed that a group against military involvement was gaining power. This group wanted "popular democracy" and no military in politics.
In 1965, Syrian President Amin al-Hafiz, a Ba'athist, put into action the socialist policies from the 6th National Congress. He nationalized (took government control of) many industries and private businesses, creating a centralized economy. The Military Committee, worried about the anti-military group, worked with the National Command to remove these leftists from the party. After the 1966 Syrian coup d'état, the Military Committee took full control of the Ba'ath Party. They accused the old leaders of weakening socialist ideas.
Ba'ath Party Branches in Different Countries
Iraq
The Iraqi Ba'ath Party branch was founded around 1951 or 1952. It was first led by Fuad al-Rikabi. Initially, most members were Shia Muslims, but it later became mostly Sunni. Many Shi'ites saw pan-Arab ideas as a Sunni project.
When the monarchy was overthrown in 1958, the Iraqi branch had about 300 members. They supported Abd al-Karim Qasim because they thought he would join Iraq with the United Arab Republic. But Qasim changed his mind, which led to the Ba'ath Party trying to assassinate him. Later, the Iraqi branch took power in the Ramadan Revolution in 1963. However, internal divisions and a counter-coup by President Arif forced them underground again in November 1963.
Jordan
Ba'athist ideas reached Jordan in the late 1940s. The Jordanian branch was officially formed in 1951 by a group of teachers. Its first meeting place was a clinic. The branch grew quickly, especially in cities like Jerusalem and Ramallah.
In the 1950 and 1951 elections, some Ba'ath members were elected to parliament, even though the party wasn't fully legal yet. They were popular in areas like Irbid, Amman, Jerusalem, and Nablus. One early member, Shuqyar, later left the party because he wanted to work with the Communist Party, but other leaders disagreed.
Lebanon
The Lebanese Ba'ath Party branch started around 1949–1950. During the time of the UAR, the Lebanese branch was split between those who supported Egypt's leader Nasser and those who didn't. The branch was strongest in the city of Tripoli.
At a meeting in Lebanon, many members criticized the main party leaders, Aflaq and Bitar. They felt the leaders had rushed into the union with Egypt and focused too much on pan-Arabism instead of socialism. They also wanted the party to use more Marxist ideas and gain more support from workers and peasants.
Libya
The Libyan Ba'ath Party branch was founded in the 1950s. Ba'athism became popular in Libya after the United Arab Republic was formed. Many educated people were drawn to Ba'athist ideas. However, the Libyan government was worried about these pan-Arab groups and arrested several military officers who were Ba'athists or Nasserists in the early 1960s. By 1964, the Libyan branch was still quite small, with an estimated 50 to 150 members.
Syria
Syrian politics changed a lot in 1954 when a military government was overthrown and democracy returned. The Ba'ath Party became very popular, winning 15 out of 142 seats in the Syrian election. It was the second-largest party and could organize big protests among workers. Many intellectuals supported the party because it was pro-Egypt, against foreign control, and wanted social reforms.
The Ba'ath Party faced strong competition from other groups, like the Syrian Social Nationalist Party and the Syrian Communist Party (SCP). The SCP was a major rival because it believed in class struggle and internationalism, which were different from Ba'athist ideas.
By late 1957, the SCP had weakened the Ba'ath Party. So, the Ba'ath Party suggested uniting with Egypt, which was a very popular idea. The Ba'ath leadership even dissolved their party in 1958, hoping this would hurt the SCP more than themselves.
A military coup in Damascus in 1961 ended the UAR. After this, the Ba'ath Party was re-established in 1962. During this time, the party's founder, Aflaq, connected with a secret Military Committee. This committee asked for permission to launch a coup, and Aflaq agreed.
After the Iraqi Ba'ath Party successfully took power in Iraq, the Syrian Military Committee quickly planned its own coup. The 8 March Revolution was successful, and a Ba'athist government was set up in Syria. The new government was controlled by military officers, not civilians.
Even though the Ba'ath Party was in power, there was a lot of internal fighting. The Military Committee, a small group within the party, ruled by force. The Ba'ath Party didn't have a large base of support, with only about 2,500 members by mid-1963. The Syrian Regional Command slowly gained more power, leading to the 1966 Syrian coup d'état.
Other Branches
After the Ba'ath Party was founded, branches were also set up in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Later, branches appeared in North and South Yemen. In Tunisia, a branch was formed in the 1950s but often had to operate secretly. There were also rumors of Ba'ath groups in Sudan and Egypt in the 1960s. A Ba'ath Party branch was established in Algeria in 1988.
See also
In Spanish: Partido Baaz Árabe Socialista para niños
