Egypt and Syria: Similarities and Differences Between Two Countries

Abstract

For many years, both the Syrian and Egyptian regimes proved themselves to be remarkably enduring. This chapter discusses the factors that undermined the stability of both regimes and led to the outbreak of widespread protests. It compares the political, social, economic and communication structures in Syria and Egypt before 2011 and shows that both regimes shared similar historical paths; they both advanced populism and rhetorically advocated Arab nationalism in their foreign policies. Earlier, Nasser had intensified Egyptian populism by increasing the role of the state in the economy in Egypt. Similarly, Syria’s Ba’ath Party leaders pursued populist policies when they came to power. Moreover, both countries had military officials in leadership positions between 1963 and 1970. Yet, despite their similarities, one could also observe structural differences in these two authoritarian states. To understand the reasons behind the 2011 Syrian and Egyptian uprisings, the section analyses the nuanced political and social factors that differentiated the two countries.