Independent since 1946, Syria was united with Egypt and Yemen for three years (1958-61) forming the United Arab Republic. In 1963 after a military coup, power was ceased by Baath (the Arab nationalist party with socialist leanings) and in 1970 after defeat in the “Six Days War” (and Israel’s occupation of the Golan Heights) a new coup by the Alawite group, within the Baath movement brought General Ḥāfiẓ al-Asad to power. Upon his death (10 June 2000) the role of President of the Republic passed to his son, Basshār. In 1976 Syria intervened in the Civil War in Lebanon, setting up a form of protectorate (cancelled in 1991 and replaced by a treaty of co-operation). Following the UN Security Council’s resolution ordering foreign troops to withdraw from Lebanon (2 September 2004) and the large-scale protests against Syria in Beirut, in 2005 Syria removed its military presence from Lebanon.
The border with the Golan Heights, still occupied by Israel, is patrolled by a UN security force.
In 2011, the repression of protest rallies against the President Basshār al-Asad regime led to a long civil war. The rebel forces are backed by the monarchies of the Gulf, the US and Turkey (which is however against the activities of Kurdish militia) as well as by countless other countries, which have recognized the opposition forces grouped together in the Syrian National Council as legitimate representatives of the Syrian people. The regime of al-Asad is upheld by Hezbollah Shiites, by Iran and by Russia. The heterogeneous coalition of rebels was weakened by internal division, specifically by the presence of groups connected to Islamic extremist forces who in 2014-15 took hold of ample areas in the northeastern part of the country and in Iraq, then reconquered by the Syrian Democratic Forces, under Kurdish leadership. Syria has also become a theatre for clashes between foreign powers involved in the conflict, particularly the USA (which withdrew in 2019), Russia, Iran and Turkey.
According to the Constitution passed by referendum on 12 March 1973, the President of the Republic is elected for a seven-year term, the candidate being nominated by the People’s Assembly and confirmed by popular vote. The President holds executive power and appoints the government. Legislative power lies with the People’s Assembly, comprising 250 members elected by universal suffrage. Half of the seats are reserved for workers, while 167 of the seats are nevertheless reserved for members of the JWW, the national patriotic front headed by the Baath party.

Defence.
Apart from the regular army, there is also an 8000 strong force of paramilitary armed personnel (the Gendarmerie).

Population by age and gender (% - 2020)
	75+ 60-74 45-59 30-44 15-29 0-14
MALE	AGE	FEMALE

Refugees fleeing the civil war are about 5.6 million.

Economic situation.
The effects of conflict have been intensified by Lebanon’s financial struggles, the devaluation of the Syrian pound and ensuing inflation. On 17 June 2020, American sanctions came into force, hamstringing Syria’s economic ties to the USA.

Primary sector
Agriculture and forests.
Cereal crops are grown, especially wheat and barley, in the ‘Ar al-Jazīrah plains. Fruit farming (especially citrus) is widespread in the mountainous areas and on the coastal plains. Other important products include vines, olives, tomatoes, potatoes, sugar beet, and cotton (grown in the Al-Ghāb plain). The forests are concentrated in the areas around Latakia, Homs, Damascus and Ḥamāh.

Secondary sector
Minerals.
There are some crude oil deposits in the north-eastern part of the country (at Qaratshūk, As-Suwaydā’, Hamseh, Kherbet, Yosefieh), which are linked to an oil pipeline coming from Kirkūk (Iraq) and heading towards the port of Ṭarṭūs and the refinery at Homs, where it branches into the Homs-Bāniyās and the Homs-Tripoli (Lebanon) pipelines. Other natural resources include natural asphalt (at Kafrīyah), rock salt (at Dayr az-Zawr), phosphates (at Homs), gypsum and natural gas.
Energy and industry.
Many factories and communication infrastructures have been damaged by the war. Power is largely produced by the hydroelectric plants, including the one at Thawrah, on the Euphrates. As well as the one at Homs, there is also an oil refinery at Bāniyās. The chemicals industry is also present, producing sulfuric acid and nitrogen fertilizers (at Homs). The metal industry, especially connected with pig iron and steel production, can be found at Ḥamāh. Cotton production has led to the development of a textile industry (at Damascus and Aleppo).
The leather tanning industry is mainly traditional, except for modern tanneries in Aleppo and Damascus. In terms of food industries, there is oil pressing (at Ḥamāh and Latakia), flour (at Damascus and Aleppo) and sugar (at Homs, Dayr az-Zawr, Maskaneh and Jisr ash-Shughūr). Other important industries include cement production (at Dummar, near Damascus, at Aleppo, Ḥamāh, Al-Ḥasakah, ‘Adrā, Ṭarṭūs and Homs), tractors, paper and carpets.
The main trading partners are Turkey, Saudi Arabia, China, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt. There is an active stock market in Damascus.

Main exports (M US$ - 2010) crude oil 4 405, petroleum products 941, cotton 410, phosphates 192, fruit and vegetables 154, apparel and accessories 143, synthetic and artificial fibres and yarns 114, plastics 75

Tourism. Tourism, today almost disappeared because of the conflict, was concentrated mainly on the remarkable archaeological sites (especially near Damascus, Aleppo, Ugarit, Ebla and Palmyra).