by Salim Mujais
We derive our ideals from our own character and we declare that in the Syrian character are latent all science, philosophy, and art in the world. Unless the Syrian ethos is strengthened, and unless it is freed from dominating alien influences, the elements of real independence will be wanting and Syria will fall short of its ideals.
THE EIGHTH BASIC PRINCIPLE
Syria’s interest supersedes every other interest.
This is the most important principle in national action for, in. the first place, it provides the clue to the sincerity and integrity of national militants, and, in the second place, it directs their energies towards the real purpose of national action, which is the interest of the Syrian nation and its welfare. It is the criterion by which all national movements and actions are judged. Through this criterion, the SSNP excels all other political factions in Syria, to say nothing of its obvious excellence in other respects. The SSNP aims at serving the concrete and tangible interests of the Syrians and at meeting their common needs and aims. There is no longer a need to seek in vain the definition of national endeavor in the domain of the abstract and the impracticable. This principle centers all other principles round the interest of the nation so that Syrians are no longer misled by the propaganda of those who would serve contrary interests.
The life of the nation is a concrete reality and so are its interests. The success of the SSNP in bringing about this remarkable national revival in our country is due, in great measure, to the fact that the Party seeks to serve the genuine interests of the Syrian nation and assert its will to life.
Syria embodies our social character, faculties, ideals, our outlook on life, art, and the universe. It is the symbol of our honor, dignity, and destiny. That is why our loyalty to Syria must transcend all personal interests and considerations.
THE REFORM PRINCIPLES
THE FIRST REFORM PRINCIPLE
Separation of religion and state.
The greatest obstacle to the achievement of our national unity and our national progress has been the pretension of ecclesiastical bodies to political power and their actual possession of such power in varying degrees. Indeed, the great battles of human emancipation were those that took place between the interests of nations and the interests of religious institutions, which clung to the principle of divine truth and divine law for dominion and control of people. It is a dangerous principle that enslaved people to religious institutions. Religious institutions were not the only ones using the principle of divine truth and divine will. It is also inherent in “Divine Kingship”, where rulers claimed to derive their authority from the will of God.
Theocracy or the religious state is incompatible with the concept of nationhood because it stands for the domination of the whole community of believers by an ecclesiastical authority. Religion recognizes no national interests because it is concerned with a community of believers dominated by a central religious authority.
This is the aspect of the issue that the SSNP is opposed to not the philosophical or theological ideas concerning the mysteries of the soul, immortality, the creator, and metaphysical matters.
The concept of a religious-political bond is contrary to nationalism in general and to Syrian Social Nationalism in particular. The adherence of Syrian Christians to such a concept would set them apart from other religious groups within the nation and would expose their interests to the danger of being submerged in the interests of other groups with whom they happen to share a religious bond. Similarly, the adherence of Syrian Moslems to the concept of a religious bond would bring their interests also to possible conflict with those of their non-Muslim compatriots and would submerge those interests in those of the greater religious community. The inevitable outcome of the concept of a religious bond is the disintegration of national unity and the decline of national life.
We cannot achieve national unity by making the state a religious one because in such a state rights and interests would be denominational in nature pertaining exclusively to the dominant religious group. Where such rights and interests are those of a religious group, common national rights and interests will not obtain. Without the community of interests and rights there can be no unity of duties and no unified national will. Based on this legal philosophy, the SSNP has succeeded in laying down the foundations of national unity and in actually realizing it within its ranks.
THE SECOND REFORM PRINCIPLE
Debarring the clergy from interference in political and judicial matters.
The rationale for setting forth this principle in a separate article is that religious bodies attempt to acquire or retain civil authority even where the separation of religion and state has been conceded. This principle puts an end to the indirect interference of ecclesiastical bodies in civil and political matters. This principle defines precisely the meaning of the separation of religion from the state for reform must not be confined to the political sphere but must extend to the legal-judicial sphere as well.
In a country where judicial function is based on the diversity of religious sects, equality in civic and political rights will not be possible nor will general national unity for the latter is conditional on the unity of laws. The Social Nationalist state must have a uniform judiciary and a unified system of laws. Citizens must all be equal before the one law of the state. There can be no unity of character where the basis of life is in conflict with the unity of the nation.
THE THIRD REFORM PRINCIPLE
Removal of the barriers between the various sects and confessions.
There exists in Syria age-old barriers between the various sects and denominations that are not of the essence of religion. There are conflicting traditions derived from the structure of religious and denominational institutions that have exerted an enormous influence on the social and economic unity of the people, weakened it and delayed our national revival. As long as these barriers remain, our call for freedom and independence will remain futile.
Every nation that seeks a free and independent life in which it can realize its ideals must possess strong spiritual unity. Such spiritual unity is not possible in a country in which each group lives in isolation from other groups and has particular social and legal systems, which set it apart from other groups. This would result in differences in character and disharmony in aims and aspirations.
National unity will not be achieved unless the causes for dissension are removed. The socio-legal barriers separating the sects and denominations of the same nation constitute a major obstacle to the realization of the unity of the nation.
Unity is something real and not fictitious, so let us not surrender reality and cling to illusion. We must stand together before the world as one united nation rather than a conglomeration of heterogeneous elements of conflicting attitudes. The existence of the present social and legal barriers which separate the various sects entails the persistence of obnoxious religious bigotries. Those barriers must be demolished so that the unity of the nation might become a reality and the Social Nationalist order, which will restore the nation to health and energy might be established.
THE FOURTH REFORM PRINCIPLE
The abolition of feudalism, the organization of national economy on the basis of production and the protection of the rights of labor and the interests of the nation and the state.
Although feudalism is not legally recognized in Syria, there exists in certain parts of the country a number of economic and social feudal conditions that threaten the economic and social welfare of the nation. The Syrian Social Nationalist Party considers that it is of the utmost importance to put an end to this state of affairs to safeguard national unity and sovereignty.
The organization of the national economy on the basis of production is the only means for the attainment of a sound balance between the distribution of labor and the distribution of wealth. Every citizen should be productive in one way or another. Moreover, production and producers must be classified in such a way to assure coordination, participation and cooperativi
ty in the widest extent possible and to regulate the just share of laborers in production and to insure their right to work and to receive just compensation for their labor. This principle will put an end to absolute individualism in production because every form of production in society in genuinely a collective or a cooperative one. Grave injustices can be perpetrated against labor and laborers were individual capitalists to be given absolute control. The public wealth of the nation must be controlled in the national interest and under the superintendence of the national state. Progress and strength of the national state cannot be achieved save with this policy.
The aim of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party is the achievement of a sound national unity which enables the Syrian nation to excel in the struggle for existence. This unity cannot be realized if either the economic or the social order is not sufficiently wholesome. Justice in the social and economic spheres is an essential condition for the triumph of the Syrian Social Nationalist Movement.
Collective production is a public not a private right. Capital which is the guarantee of the continuity of production and its growth, and in so far as it represents the resultant of production, is consequently, in principle a public national possession. Individuals acting as trustees may dispose of it and utilize it for further productivity. Active participation in the process of production is the necessary condition for the enjoyment of public rights. With this economic organization, we guarantee our economic growth, the improvement of the lives of millions of workers and farmers, the increase of public wealth, and the strength of the social nationalist state.
THE FIFTH REFORM PRINCIPLE
Formation of strong armed forces that will be effective in determining the destiny of the nation and the homeland.
In international competition of national interests, national right is recognized only to the extent it is supported by the power of the nation. The vital interests of a nation in this struggle cannot be protected except by force in its material and intellectual aspects. Force is the decisive factor in affirming or denying national rights.
By the armed forces, we understand the army, the navy, and the air force. The art of war has reached such an advanced level that it is incumbent upon us to be always in a state complete military preparedness. The entire Syrian nation must be well armed and prepared. We have witnessed with distress parts of our country taken away and annexed to foreign countries because we have lost our military power. We are resolved not to let this state of helplessness continue. We are determined to turn the tide so that we may regain all our territory and recover the sources of our strength and vitality. It is on our own strength that we wish to depend in securing our rights and protecting our interests. We are mobilizing and preparing for our survival and preeminence in the struggle for existence. Survival and victory shall inevitably be our lot.
THE AIM OF THE SSNP
The aim of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party is the creation of a Syrian Social Nationalist renaissance that ensures the realization of its principles and return the Syrian nation to vitality and strength; the organization of a movement leading to the complete independence of the Syrian nation and the vindication of its sovereignty; the establishment of a new order to protect its interest and raise its standard of living; and the endeavor to form an Arab front.
It is clear from this article that national revival is the central theme in the program of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party. National revival involves the establishment of the concept of nationhood in Syria and securing the very life of the Syrian nation and the creation of the conditions necessary for its progress and unity, as well as the establishment of a new social-national order. This far reaching aim of the Party is of the utmost importance because it is not restricted to the treatment of a particular political form but affects the very foundations of nationhood and the basic principles of national life. The purpose of the Party is to direct the Syrian nation towards progress and prosperity and the activation of the elements of national energy latent in Syria. This national energy once fully developed will free the nation from apathy and adherence to antiquated beliefs and stand as a deterrent against foreign ambitions threatening the interests of the millions of Syrians and their very existence. The Party also aims at dissemination of new ideas expressing our new outlook on life and our Social Nationalist doctrine.
The aim of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party is a comprehensive undertaking directed towards the examination of the foundations of national life in all its aspects: economic, social, political, spiritual, and moral. It embraces national ideals, the significance of independence and the establishment of a genuine national society. This entails a new ethical outlook and a new theory of values as embodied in the basic and reform principles of the Party which contain a new and complete philosophy of life.
A complementary part of the foreign policy of the Party is the creation of an Arab Front from the Arab nations. This front should serve as a bulwark against foreign imperialistic ambitions and prove of considerable moment in deciding major political questions.
Syria is one of the Arab nations and indeed is the nation qualified to lead the Arab world as the Syrian Social Nationalist Party proves conclusively. It is obvious that a nation with no internal cohesiveness to insure its unity and progress cannot help revive other nations and lead them along the path of progress and success. Syrian nationalism is the only genuine practical way, the first prerequisite for the awakening of the Syrian nation and its ability to work for the Arab Cause.
Those who believe that the Syrian Social Nationalist Party seeks Syria’s withdrawal from the Arab World because they do not distinguish between Syrian national awakening and the Pan-Arab cause are grossly mistaken.
We shall never relinquish our position in the Arab World, nor our mission to the Arab World. We want first and foremost to be strong in order to accomplish our mission more adequately. Syria must forge ahead in its national revival so that it can fulfill its great mission.
This comprehensive outlook of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party represents an ideal conception of national life. The Party does not intend to confine this broad outlook with its far-reaching consequences to Syria alone, but it intends to pass it on to our sister Arab nations through cultural activities, mutual understanding and exchange of opinions, not by means of the abolishing of the identity of those Arab nations and the imposition of those principles on them by force.
As to the political aspect of the Party’s aims, the Party considers that from the internal point of view the Lebanese question arose from subsidiary reasons, which were valid at a time when the concept of the state was still a religious concept. However, the principles of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party affirm the national social-legal basis of statehood. Through the realization of the principles of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, those reasons for Lebanese isolation would cease to be justified.
As regards to the Arab World, the Party favors recourse to conferences and alliances, as the only practical way to cooperation between Arab nations. The Party favors the formation of an Arab Front of definite moment in international politics. National sovereignty, however, should not be surrendered in such pacts and alliances.
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