People's Party (Syria)

Summary

The People's Party (Arabic: حزب الشعب Ḥizb aš-Šaʿb; French: Parti du peuple) was a Syrian political party that dominated Syrian politics during the 1950s and the early 1960s. The party was officially founded in August 1948 by Rushdi al-Kikhiya, Nazem al-Qudsi and Mustafa bey Barmada.[5] It saw its greatest levels of support among Aleppo merchants, bankers and those in agriculture in surrounding areas. It supported closer ties with Hashemite-ruled Iraq and Jordan, although some members also supported closer ties with Lebanon. Similar to its rival, the National Party, it was also popular among landowners and landlords.

People's Party
حزب الشعب
FoundedAugust 1948 (1948-08)
Dissolved1963 (1963)
Split fromNational Bloc
HeadquartersAleppo
NewspaperAl-Shaʻb
IdeologyLiberalism[1][2]
National liberalism
Liberal nationalism
Populism
Pro-Hashemite dynasty
Pro-Western[3][4]
Political positionCentre-right

In recent years there have been discussions about reviving the party in some form following the liberalization of requirements for membership in the National Progressive Front, but this has not materialized.[6]

Leaders edit

Leader Tenure Position(s)
  Rushdi al-Kikhya 1949–1951 Speaker of the People's Council of Syria
  Hashim al-Atassi 1940–1955 President of Syria
  Nazim al-Kudsi 1961–1963 President of Syria
Maarouf al-Dawalibi 1961–1962 Prime Minister of Syria
  Rashad Barmada 1954–1962 Minister of Defense
  Abd al-Wahhab Hawmad 1954–1956 Minister of Finance

References edit

  1. ^ Lawson 2013, pp. 61–63.
  2. ^ Schumann 2010, pp. 54–62.
  3. ^ Moubayed 2006, p. 200.
  4. ^ Maddy-Weitzman 1993, p. 151.
  5. ^ Lesch, David W. (2019-05-20). Syria: A Modern History. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-1-5095-2755-7.
  6. ^ Sami, Moubayed (26 April 2005). "Syria's Ba'athists loosen the reins". Asia Times Online. Hong Kong. Archived from the original on 25 April 2005. Retrieved 5 April 2010.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)

Bibliography edit

  • Lawson, Fred H. (2013), Global Security Watch—Syria, ABC-CLIO, ISBN 978-0-3133-5957-6
  • Scott, Len; Hughes, R. Gerald (2013), Intelligence, Crises and Security: Prospects and Retrospects, Routledge, ISBN 978-0-4154-6430-7
  • Schumann, Christoph (2010), Nationalism and Liberal Thought in the Arab East: Ideology and Practice, Routledge, ISBN 978-0-4155-5410-7
  • Moubayed, Sami M. (2006), Steel & Silk: Men and Women who Shaped Syria 1900-2000, Cune Press, ISBN 978-1-8859-4241-8
  • Chaurasia, Radhey S. (2005), History of Middle East, Atlantic Publishers & Dist, ISBN 978-8-1269-0448-8
  • Commins, David Dean (2004), Historical dictionary of Syria, Scarecrow Press, ISBN 978-0-8108-4934-1
  • Moubayed, Sami M. (2002), Damascus between democracy and dictatorship, University Press of America, ISBN 978-0-7618-1744-4
  • Maddy-Weitzman, Bruce (1993), The Crystallization of the Arab State System, 1945-1954, Syracuse University Press, ISBN 978-0-8156-2580-3
  • Ro'i, Yaacov (1974), From encroachment to involvement: a documentary study of Soviet policy in the Middle East, 1945-1973, Transaction Publishers, ISBN 978-0-470-73150-5