Electorate Mobilization in Syria

                In a heated campaign run, political parties seek votes in a number of ways.  They first mobilize their cohesive base; those who will naturally vote their way no matter what.  After this base is secured, they seek “outside the box” voters.  These include:

1: Past voters

2: People who will mobilize others

3: married people

4: church goers

5: Past supporters of the party

6: Any other potential voters that are on the fence

There are a number of strategies parties take to influence these groups.  Many parties first buy credit card information to analyze political preferences.  Facebook and other social medias also maintain crucial information that suggests ideological leanings.  As parties obtain and analyze what we buy, sell, and view online, they know how to best approach us in their pitch. 

Each letter or email sent from a political party is quite calculated.  Although it may seem otherwise, thousands of dollars of research is spent on how to best persuade potential constituents.  Each television or internet advertisement is calculated to convince its main target audience.  A television advertisement in Utah or Arizona might be completely different in Florida or California.

 In July of 2011, Syria formally announced that parties other than the ruling Ba’ath party could compete on a national level.  The Sana news agency stated: "The government adopted a draft law regarding political parties in Syria as part of a programme of reform aimed at enriching the political life, creating a new dynamic and allowing for a change in political power.”

Eight months later, the Ba’ath party continues to control power in Syria.  How can this be?  Why couldn’t new parties gain different groups of constituents, as described above? 

One reason is because of the deep fear instilled by the ruling party.  A BBC news article stated, ”Human rights groups say that about 1,400 civilians and 350 security forces personnel have died in the four months of protest [previous to the allowance for new parties].”

Despite the statewide unrest and dissatisfaction, new parties continue to struggle to find new constituents in war torn Syria.  In my opinion, this is not because there are no new constituents to be found.  Rather, the Ba’ath party instills just enough fear into citizens that they do not align themselves with other parties.  The only way people will finally step out of this fear is if the rebels successfully defeat President Assad’s regime.  If this happens, thousands of currently hidden voices will come out in opposition to the Ba’ath party.  Hopefully, new parties will then be able to collect the all voters they deserve. 

Syria is to allow political parties, state agency says. 25 July. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-14274891