Damascus exhibition


I can't say that I am a friend of Bashir al-Assad, whom I have never met, but I do think that he has been misjudged by the West. Obviously the man is a dictator, something which is contrary to our ideals of freedom and democracy, but experience shows that democracy does not work in a society which is divided on tribal, religious or racial grounds. Instead of voting for the best man, people vote for the man who is "one of us", irrespective of his fitness for the post.

Syria, unfortunately, is just such a society. There are divisions between Sunni, Shia, Alawi, Christian, Druse and probably several other religious groupings. There are divisions between town and country (and in a society where beduin are a definite presence that is a far sharper division than the tame affair in Western countries). There are even tribal divisions. The fact that despite our best efforts, the West has failed to construct a unified resistance to al-Assad testifies to the deepness of these divisions.

From the little I saw of Syria, it was my impression that al-Assad was attempting to introduce freedom and reform into Syria after the harsh and repressive regime of his father. It is an unfortunate fact that throughout history, as soon as oppression is lightened, people break out into revolt. They want more than the rulers are willing to give them or even than is good for them, and the result is chaos and disaster. Every revolution, from the French to the Russian and down into our own time has followed this pattern. China is the only exception and then only because it has retained the power to crack down on dissent in ways that are bad for the individual but beneficial for society as a whole.

The so-called "Arab Spring" has been a disaster for Syria. Bashir's response was a half-hearted crack-down, probably because he sincerely did not want to oppress his people. He should have either left the country and allowed total freedom - which in a Muslim land means total chaos and wholesale murder - or he should have followed his father's example and crushed the unrest ruthlessly.

That would, of course, have earned him universal execration by the West, but at least the majority of Syria's population - to say nothing of its priceless antiquities - would have continued to enjoy peace and stability.