Policies formed in accordance with state-sect pragmatism in the Middle East: Nusayris who control power

The purpose of this study is to analyze the state-sect conflict on the control of countries, the existence of which cannot be denied in the Middle East, by examining it in the countries in the region in general, and in Syria in particular which has been governed by Nusayris -a minority group- for a period, extending over 40 years. In this study, the ethnic, religious, cultural and belief systems of Nusayris living in Syria have been examined by considering historical developments beginning with the independence of the country from the French mandate in 1946. After clarifying the fundamental concepts regarding the Nusayris sect, the political dimension of Nusayris is dwelled on. In this regard the focus is on how Nusayris gained power since the independence of the country, by examining Syria?s history from the past to the present. In order to provide a comprehensive outlook on this issue, as the process through which the Nusayris gained political power started with the Baath Party, information on the ideology and ideologists of the party has been furnished. The Baath Party which was founded and developed during the Hafız al Assad era has shaped domestic and foreign politics of the country, having received the support of the Sunnis of Syria. In the final section, his successor and son, Bashar al Assad?s economic and political policies are scrutinized in the light of the developments in the Middle East which are referred to as the ?Arab Spring?. Considering all that have a role in the country, it has been concluded that what has been happening in Syria does not have a sectarian dimension but that a variety of factors have an influence on the events as well. Key Words: Sectarian, Nusayris, The Baath Party, The Muslim Brothers, Arab Nationalism, The Arab Spring, Hafız al Assad, Bashar al Assad