Bashar al-Assad: The unplanned successor

A student at London's Western Eye Hospital had no idea about the exam life had prepared for him. Instead of advancing his medical career, he was thrust into a completely different test.

He would soon face the complexities of political intrigue, familial obligations, and the eventual burden of leading a nation.

This is the story of Bashar al-Assad, born in 1965, whose life took an unexpected turn into the unforgiving world of politics.

An unplanned succession

Bashar al-Assad had no initial aspirations for a political career, nor did his father, Hafez al-Assad, envision him in such a role.

Hafez had meticulously groomed his eldest son, Basil, to be his political heir. However, Basil’s untimely death in a car accident in 1994 altered the course of Bashar’s life.

Summoned back from Britain, where he was pursuing medical studies, Bashar became the reluctant heir. Hafez, aware of his younger son's quiet and reserved nature, began preparing him for the harsh realities of political leadership.

Bashar was enrolled at the military academy in Homs, and within five years, he rose to the rank of colonel.

He became his father's advisor and was gradually introduced to public-facing responsibilities, such as addressing citizen grievances and spearheading anti-corruption campaigns.

Rise to power

Hafez al-Assad had seized power in 1970, establishing a regime supported by the military and the Ba'ath Party. His death on June 10, 2000, set in motion a rapid political transition.

On the day of Hafez's death, Syria’s parliament reduced the minimum age for presidential candidates from 40 to 34, enabling Bashar to qualify.

Ten days later, in a referendum devoid of opposition, Bashar al-Assad was elected president with 97% of the vote.

He also assumed leadership of the Ba'ath Party and became commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

A hope for change

Initially, Bashar was hailed as a young, Western-educated leader who might modernize Syria.

His early slogans promised democracy, technological advancements, and an end to corruption.

By 2001, some signs of progress emerged: the introduction of cell phones, satellite television, and internet cafes hinted at a modernizing society.

However, Bashar's attempts at economic reforms were stifled by Syria's deeply entrenched state-controlled economy.

While he introduced some changes, they fell short of transforming the country.

The Arab Spring and civil war

The Arab Spring in 2011 marked a turning point for Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

Inspired by uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya, Syrians began demanding political reforms and the end of the state of emergency that had been in place since 1963.

Protests erupted across the country, but the government's response was swift and brutal.

In May 2011, the Syrian military launched a violent crackdown in Homs and the outskirts of Damascus. Despite promises of reforms, including new parliamentary elections and cabinet changes, the unrest intensified.

Opposition activists formed a National Council to lead the revolution, and calls for Bashar’s resignation grew louder.

Bashar blamed foreign powers, particularly the United States, for inciting unrest. His regime intensified its military response, deploying tanks and launching a massive crackdown that escalated into a civil war.

Accusations of chemical weapon use further tarnished his government’s reputation, though Syria denied these allegations.

International isolation and continued conflict

As the civil war raged, international condemnation of Bashar mounted. Sanctions were imposed, and world leaders, including U.S. President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron, called for his resignation.

Despite this, Bashar retained power, bolstered by Russia’s military support.

By 2016, the conflict had caused an estimated 470,000 deaths and created millions of refugees, sparking a global humanitarian crisis.

A divided nation

The Syrian civil war fragmented the country, with over 50 rebel groups vying for power. Amid the chaos, extremist organizations like ISIS gained strength, adding another layer of complexity to the conflict.

Neighboring countries, overwhelmed by the refugee influx, began closing their borders.

While Bashar al-Assad clung to power, the cost was staggering—both in human lives and Syria’s destruction. International debates over intervention, accountability, and the country’s future continue, leaving Syria’s fate uncertain.