Ba'ath Party

The Arab Socialist Ba'th Party (also spelled Baath or Ba'ath; Arabic: ??? ????? ?????? ?????????) was founded in 1945 as a radical, left-wing, secular Arab nationalist political party. It functioned as a pan-Arab party with branches in different Arab countries, but was strongest in Syria and Iraq, coming to power in both countries in 1963. In 1966 the Syrian and Iraqi parties split into two rival organisations. Both Ba'th parties retained the same name and maintain parallel structures in the Arab world.

Foundation of the Arab Ba'th Party

In 1944, al-Arsuzi was deserted by most of his supporters, the bulk of whom, led by Wahib al-Ghanim, joined the Aflaq-al-Bitar group in 1945. The Arab Ba'th Party came into existence the same year, when its first central committee was formed. Aflaq and al-Bitar were its leaders. The party was officially established two years later at its first party congress, held in Damascus on April 7, 1947.

Related Topics:
1944 - Wahib al-Ghanim - 1945 - Arab Ba'th Party - Damascus - April 7 - 1947

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It remained a relatively small party, with a following essentially among intellectuals, until it merged with the Arab Socialist Party of Akram al-Hawrani in 1952. The party's name was changed to the Arab Socialist Ba'th Party, while the consitution and rules of Aflaq and al-Bitar's party were adopted unchanged. A new national command was elected, composed of Aflaq, al-Bitar, al-Hawrani, and Antun Maqdisi, a supporter of al-Hawrani. In 1954 the second party congress ratified the merger.

Related Topics:
Arab Socialist Party - Akram al-Hawrani - 1952 - Antun Maqdisi - 1954

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Al-Hawrani was a popular figure known for his campaigns against the feudal landlordism prevalent in Hama province and his participation in the Rashid Ali movement in Iraq and resistance to Zionism in Palestine. His support gave the Ba'th both a wider popular base and a foothold in the officer corps of the Syrian military. However, this was not an unmixed blessing: Batatu records that many of his followers retained a personal loyalty to him rather than becoming committed party men.

Related Topics:
Hama - Rashid Ali - Iraq - Zionism - Palestine

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The Ba'th claimed to speak for the entire Arab nation and in the course of the 1950s its influence spread to other Arab countries, with branches forming in Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon. It was soon to play a prominent role in the turbulent politics of both Syria and Iraq in the 1950s and 1960s, a role that by the end of the 1960s would lead it to power in both countries but also ultimately to its transformation from an competitive, ideological political party into an instrument of rule in one-party regimes in both countries.

Related Topics:
1950 - Iraq - Jordan - Lebanon - Syria - 1960

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