The SSNP’s objectives in Syria

• The SSNP envisions a secular, modern, and democratic state in Syria where freedom and equality prevail. When equality prevails, Syrians of all religious backgrounds and colours can cooperate, hand-in-hand and shoulder-to-shoulder, to build a true democracy for Syria. A democratic state is meant to serve the people sharing the same existence in society and to represent their interests.
• The SSNP promotes a uniform civil law for equality to prevail in society, emanating from a collective will rather than any authority established by divine right. The party argues that all citizens should be equal before the law, enjoying civil, political, and social rights regardless of wealth, status, gender, or religious affiliation. “They all should be considered equal within the nation, with equal rights and duties.”.[1]
• The SSNP does not want a state based on religion and ethnicity, but rather a state based on national unity, which embraces not just political integration but also the entire life of the community—economic, social, cultural, and political. The SSNP’s solution is to foster a common life among the various groups and minorities and to create… “a strong, unified national spirit to ensure the establishment of the necessary loyalty for cooperation in the cause of the rights of the nation and the defence of its welfare.”[2]
• Sa’adeh maintains that “the Syrian nation is one society.”[3] The lack of social unity leads to the absence of common interests and the proliferation of conflicting loyalties and negative attitudes. Conversely, “through social unity, the conflict of loyalties and harmful attitudes will disappear to be replaced by a single healthy national loyalty ensuring the nation’s revival.”[4]

 The SSNP upholds the unity of society by eliminating divisions, negative attitudes, and tendencies of “breaking away” adopted by any religious or ethnic group in Syria. The party advocates against the oppression of ethnic, linguistic, or religious minorities. It opposes the exclusion of any social group, including women, from the political and social life of the nation. The SSNP believes that constant dialogue, national collaboration, mutual trust, and tolerance should prevail, generating a sense of national unity within society to ensure its progress and integrity. Sa’adeh asserts, “Internal tolerance is at the basis of every society that does not want to decline.”[5]

The unity of the Syrian nation will be realized by fostering a “genuine national consciousness” among Syrians, making them aware of their unity, destiny, and common interests in life. According to Sa’adeh, this national consciousness is developed by implanting the idea of the nation in people’s minds through national indoctrination. This includes educational and cultural activities, seminars, and ideological discussions aimed at introducing the principles of Syrian nationalism. These principles seek to transform existing mentalities and establish a new socio-political order, along with new ethics and values.

• The SSNP believes that for Syrian society to progress, gender equality must be addressed, allowing women to live on equal footing with men and exercise similar rights and responsibilities.
• Eliminating sectarianismat all levels is a vital step towards creating a new system of socio-economic justice, freedom and equality among citizens;
• Secularizing society begins by first secularizing our minds, followed by raising secular, enlightened, and democratic citizens. Therefore, it is crucial to introduce secular education and educate the next generations about the issues surrounding sectarianism and its detrimental effects on society. Sectarianism fosters phobias, hatred, intolerance, prejudice, extremism, and hostility. It is essential to instill new values in the hearts and minds of the new generations that can contribute to a fair, peaceful, and democratic society. These values should include social tolerance, mutual respect, sharing, equality, justice, and peace.

Conclusion:

The Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP) articulates a comprehensive vision for Syria centered on national unity, secularism, and socio-economic progress. It seeks to build a cohesive, democratic nation that transcends historical divisions and fosters a brighter future for all Syrians. Its stance on the Syrian conflict reflects a multifaceted understanding of internal and external threats facing the nation.

Internally, Syria grapples with deep divisions and the proliferation of sectarianism, exemplified by horrific massacres and divisive slogans propagated during opposition demonstrations. These internal challenges are compounded by external adversaries, notably the Western-Zionist alliance, which the SSNP views as a historical architect of regional instability through actions such as the creation of “Israel” and the occupation of Syrian territories like the Golan Heights. This alliance, bolstered by support for imported terrorism, seeks to weaken Syria strategically and politically, aiming ultimately to replace its leadership with a regime compliant with Western interests.

The SSNP argues that Syria’s unwavering stance on national sovereignty, staunch support for Palestinian rights, and resistance to Israeli aggression have made it a target for Western intervention. This intervention, driven not by humanitarian concerns but by geopolitical and economic interests, seeks to dismantle Syria’s independent foreign policy and align it more closely with Western allies in the region. The party asserts that Western interventions under the guise of humanitarianism serve only to exacerbate Syria’s internal strife and prolong the conflict, undermining prospects for genuine peace and stability.

In essence, the SSNP contends that Syria’s crisis cannot be divorced from its geopolitical significance and regional alliances, particularly its role in supporting movements of national resistance against Israeli occupation and imperialism. The party’s perspective underscores the complex interplay of internal divisions and external interventions, urging for a comprehensive national strategy that prioritizes sovereignty, unity, and resistance against foreign interference.

[1] Antun Sa´adeh, Collected Works, vol. 9, p. 280.

[2]Ibid., p. 113.

[3]Ibid., pp. 99 – 101.

[4]Ibid., p.

[5]Ibid., vol. 9, p. 157.

Understanding SSNP’s Role in Syria’s Anti-Terror Efforts