Transformation of Political Elite in Syria During the Civil War (2011-2019)

Today, the Arab East is one of the most unstable regions in the world – uprisings, civil wars, and terrorism. The events of the “Arab spring” have exposed the acute crisis of power that has been growing for years. The stability of authoritarian governments with a rigid worldview, detached from the pressing problems of the population of their countries, was interrupted by the mass passing away of a whole generation of leaders in 1999-2000. The old generation is replaced by a new elite, from which the population expects democratic changes. However, mass protests that proved the failure of the new elites' policies in Syria resulted in a Civil war that put the political elites in a crisis situation that not everyone was able to adapt to. This study aims at determining the changes in the nature of the political elite in Syria during the civil war. The study is expected to be an up to date comprehensive study in the field of elite transformation that will allow applying the findings to trends in other countries in the region.