Kleptocracy: Over 50 Years of Rule by Thieves in Syria

Kleptocracy, or "rule by thieves," is a form of authoritarian governance that seeks to exploit a nation’s wealth and resources for the benefit of a ruling elite. Unlike totalitarian regimes, which rely on rigid ideologies and systematic propaganda to shape collective consciousness, kleptocracies focus on economic alliances and personal loyalties to consolidate power. In such systems, legitimacy and the rule of law are entirely absent, replaced instead by networks of patronage and corruption.

In Syria, kleptocracy has manifested vividly over more than half a century of Assad family rule. When Hafez al-Assad seized power, he sought to establish a hybrid model blending totalitarianism and kleptocracy. He exploited Baathist ideology to legitimize his reign while simultaneously building a network of beneficiaries that included his family, sectarian allies, and select tribal factions to ensure complete control over the state’s resources.

The Baath Party: An Ideological Facade

Although the Baath Party served as the ideological facade of the regime, it gradually devolved into a hollow bureaucratic apparatus devoid of intellectual substance. As historian Hanna Batatu noted, the party became increasingly dominated by opportunists whose primary goal was to secure personal advancement. Recognizing this, Hafez al-Assad retained the party as a tool for mobilization and filling the void of legitimacy. However, he understood that real power lay within the familial, sectarian, and tribal networks that he meticulously orchestrated to govern the country.

Bashar’s Era: Modernizing Kleptocracy

When Bashar al-Assad assumed power, he introduced a new narrative of "development and modernization," feigning economic reforms and embracing a market-driven economy. In practice, however, this was merely a smokescreen for expanding patronage networks. A new generation of regime-aligned businessmen emerged, acting as financial proxies for the ruling elite.

The Baath Party’s role was progressively marginalized, losing any ideological or political significance. By the time widespread protests erupted in 2011, the regime was prepared to discard the party altogether in a theatrical display of reform. Yet this was nothing more than a desperate attempt to quell popular anger without making any substantial concessions.

From Patronage to Mafia Rule

What sets Bashar’s rule apart from his father’s is the absence of any coherent political project or strategic vision. While Hafez al-Assad, despite his authoritarianism, invested in nationalist and regional rhetoric to legitimize his regime, Bashar reduced governance to a mafia-like structure. His regime became a fragile entity sustained by temporary alliances and looting networks that divided the nation’s wealth among a narrow circle of loyalists.

The Syrian regime under Bashar cannot even be described as a classic dictatorship. It is better characterized as a kleptocratic entitya patchwork of exploitative gangs focused solely on self-enrichment while the state crumbles.

The Syrian regime is not just an authoritarian dictatorship; it is a living example of kleptocracy at its worst. It has drained the country economically, dismantled its social fabric, and entrenched corruption in every state institution. While Syria has endured decades of dictatorial rule, calling Bashar al-Assad a "dictator" seems far too generous. He has governed not with the vision of a leader, but with the mindset of a gang boss. Ultimately, he has fled the nation with his entourage, leaving behind a country stripped of its resources—without even a word of apology to the Syrian people or a farewell to his supporters.

Ghinwa Al-Shomari
Academic and researcher in Syrian affairs