The socialism they’re talking about here is a USSR-style central planned economy, just to make that clear. That sort of environment is absolutely hostile to foreign investment for many reasons, not the least of which is the corruption that will take decades to fully erase, if such a thing is even possible. For a demonstration of what that means today look at Egypt, which isn’t socialist but has many of the same problems due to the military’s encroachment on the market. The problem is that it’s impossible to compete with a state that doesn’t want to let you compete, so you’re at the mercy of the government in a way that tends to repel foreign investment.
Bashar already went on to a neoliberal course and privatized many businesses and removed many social securities that his father Hafiz granted.
The social contract in Syria under Hafiz was working on the basis of “If you keep your mouth shut, the government will ensure your everyday needs.” Under Bashar it was “We will fuck you economically and you keep your mouth shut, because we torture and kill you otherwise.” So there was only negatives, and a lack of things for people to lose, which is the basis of revolutions.
For an demonstration of what that means today look at Egypt, which isn’t socialist but has many of the same problems due to the military’s encroachment on the market
being stuck in the same country as sisi is purgatory
The socialism they’re talking about here is a USSR-style central planned economy, just to make that clear. That sort of environment is absolutely hostile to foreign investment for many reasons, not the least of which is the corruption that will take decades to fully erase, if such a thing is even possible. For a demonstration of what that means today look at Egypt, which isn’t socialist but has many of the same problems due to the military’s encroachment on the market. The problem is that it’s impossible to compete with a state that doesn’t want to let you compete, so you’re at the mercy of the government in a way that tends to repel foreign investment.
Bashar already went on to a neoliberal course and privatized many businesses and removed many social securities that his father Hafiz granted.
The social contract in Syria under Hafiz was working on the basis of “If you keep your mouth shut, the government will ensure your everyday needs.” Under Bashar it was “We will fuck you economically and you keep your mouth shut, because we torture and kill you otherwise.” So there was only negatives, and a lack of things for people to lose, which is the basis of revolutions.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Syria#1990s–2000s:_Liberalization_and_privatization
being stuck in the same country as sisi is purgatory
Thankfully I managed to get away (sort of) but yeah, that was not a fun time.