MIXED MEDIA CASE STUDY

Mixed Media Case Study



Mixed Media Case Study

Introduction

The Syrian Arab Republic, or Syria, is a Middle Eastern country bordered by Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, and the Mediterranean Sea (Drysdale, 1979, 67). Despite contentious relations with many of its neighbors, Syria has long subscribed to a political ideal which would unify all countries in the Arab world into a powerful regional force.

Like other Middle Eastern countries, Syria has a complex modern culture informed by a patchwork of diverse and spiritual people. The country is home to some of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The government of Syria has been accused by the United States of harboring terrorist groups (Morris, 2005, 41). In January 2011, widespread anti-government protests occurred in Syria, inspired by demonstrations of a similar kind in Tunisia and Egypt. Human rights groups reported that the Syrian government used violence to repress the uprising. Some 1,200 civilian deaths were reported as a result of the civil conflict.

This paper aims at presenting a brief analysis of the patterns and behavior of crime in Syria, along with the measures taken at the state and political level for the establishment of a system of social control. The paper provides a detailed description of the various aspects of the Syrian society and the various forces and elements that shape up the country's dynamics in the aforementioned regard. The research also takes into account the various theories and concepts that apply to the subject area, as well as, the international policies and perspective that may have an influence over the development of criminal justice in the Syrian society.

History of the Country

Syria is officially a parliamentary republic, although, in practice, it is a military-dominated regime headed by the president.

Political stability has largely evaded the country since its independence from France in 1946; several coups have characterized its political landscape. For a brief period from 1958 to 1961, Syria united with Egypt, but the unity broke after an army coup which usurped the administrative controls (McLynn, 2001, 85). The controls were subsequently taken over by the Baath party in 1963. According to the constitution of Syria, the Arab Socialist Baath Party leads the Syrian society and the state. It also states that the president of Syria must be a member of this party. The Baath Party is the largest political party in Syria and, along with other smaller parties that support it, has formed a coalition known as the National Progressive Front (NPF). The executive in Syria presides over the legislative and judiciary (Melossi & Pavarini, 2001, 52).

Political Background of the Country

Syria began the twentieth century under Ottoman rule. Following the dissolution of the empire, it came under the rule of the French. This period, known as the French Mandate Period, lasted until the end of War World II (McLynn, 2001, 85). A period of instability followed, marked by political tensions within Syria and with its neighbors. In 1970, General Hafez al-Assad, who belonged to the Alawite minority, took power of ...