Impact of the Arab Spring on Jordan and Syria
The Arab Spring had a different impact on the countries of the region. On the one hand, in some countries, the uprising led to bloodshed and violence. On the other hand, in some countries, governmental control was tightened. Jordan and Syria are two completely different scenarios, with one country becoming a battlefield and another experiencing a political development setback.
The uprising in Syria led to the beginning of a civil war. It revealed the discrepancies that had existed before, which led to the emergence of extremist groups while the governmental crackdown was intensifying. The government and the groups clashed in a conflict that still affects the country. Jordan, on the contrary, managed to suppress the protests successfully. However, it led to political stagnation, as the king refused to transform the form of government into a constitutional monarchy. Overall, the Arab Spring affected the two countries in entirely different ways.
Development Process in Iran and Syria
Most Middle Eastern countries experienced events that defined the direction of their political development in the 20th century. The wars, revolutions, and coups of those years still impact most countries today. Iran and Syria were, in some ways, similar in terms of the radical transformations they experienced; on the other hand, the essence of their development and regimes differed in more than one way.
Regarding similarities, Syria and Iran experienced significant political changes in the previous century, such as military coups in Syria and the Islamic Revolution in 1979 in Iran. The latter had an especially profound impact on the regime development in Iran. The two countries kept evolving as authoritarian regimes, eventually leading to international backlash for both. On the other hand, there are differences such as ideology and leadership development: Iran’s regime is influenced by religious figures, while the Syrian system has been developing as a secular one.
Regimes in Jordan and Iran
The regimes in Jordan and Iran are both authoritarian but differ fundamentally in terms of the pillars on which they rely to maintain power. These regimes differ in terms of ideology, alliances with other countries, form of government, popular support, and others. Jordan relies on an absolute monarchy, while Iran, on the other hand, is an Islamic republic.
Jordan has a king who has absolute power as the head of the country. The Arab Spring allowed him to strengthen his rule without yielding his power to the parliament. Iran, on the other hand, relies on the authority of religious leaders, such as the supreme leader of the country. Another pillar is the alliances that help the regimes stay in power. Jordan relies on the support of the West while Iran resists Western influence by holding on to its alliance with Russia.
Influence of Regional and International Politics
Both regional and international politics heavily influence Iran’s and Syria’s political and economic development. Regarding regional politics, Iran has positioned itself as a regional power, which has defined the trajectory of its political development. However, this positioning also contributed to regional rivalry with countries such as Saudi Arabia. On the other hand, the course of war in Syria also depends on the support of its regional allies.
International politics have influenced Iran’s economic development. The sanctions imposed by the West, particularly by the United States, isolated the country’s economy. Syria has also been subject to sanctions, which have affected its economic development. At the same time, the military intervention of countries such as Russia or the US had a significant impact on the civil war.