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Episode 62 · Middle East

62. Syria 101 Part 3/5—Coups, Ba’athism, and the Assads (1946–2000)

41 min·September 23, 2025·101 Episode

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Show notes

What you'll hear

This is Part 3 of 5 of the Syria 101 series: a foundational history of Syria. This episode is a concise, foundational history of Syria from 1946 to 2000, designed for those who know little to nothing about Syria's history, to set the stage for modern Syria. This episode covers:

  • How Syria’s new democracy after independence quickly fell into instability
  • Why the 1948 war with Israel shook Syria and triggered its first coup
  • The cycle of military coups (1949–1963) and Cold War involvement
  • The rise of Pan-Arabism and Ba’athism, including Syria’s union with Egypt
  • How Hafez al-Assad seized power in 1970 and built an authoritarian state
  • What daily life looked like under Assad — security, repression, minorities, economy, and foreign

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Sources used in the making of this episode.

Transcript for this episode.

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Topics covered

War & ConflictIndependence & LiberationRevolutionTrade & EconomicsEducation & KnowledgeDemocracyAuthoritarianism