A minority rule over a hostile majority: The case of Syria

Key takeaways

content: "@haklaiMinorityRuleHostile2000" -file:@haklaiMinorityRuleHostile2000

Reading notes

• We can conclude from examining the three cases of minority rule over hostile majorities that minority rule can be explained by examining how the identities of the minority and majority were formed, how they have been shaped throughout the history of the two groups, how they have influenced and been influenced by the relationship between the groups, and how they have been manipulated and altered by political leaders for instrumental benefits.
• Persistent minority-rule is also dependent on its ability to legitimize itself, most notably by creating the appearance of a unified identity. Political entrepreneurs attempt to manipulate identities for instrumental purposes, primarily for their political survival. Success in forming such a unified identity implies a decrease in the saliency of elements of identity that distinguish between the groups, and ultimately a decrease of the level of hostility, assisting the persistence of minority rule.