TheSyrianregime,ruledbytheBa’thsocialistpartyandheadedbypresidentsfromtheAlawiminority,facesproblemsoflegitimacyvis-a-visitspeople,whichittacklesthroughpowerfulsecurityorganizationsandthestatemedia.Thegovernmentmediamachineexiststoexpresstheregime’sviewpointinbothlocalandexternalspheres,andtopromoteacceptanceofthelegitimacyofAsad’spresidencyandgovernment.ThemediaalsoattemptstomobilizethemassestoactintheserviceofthestatebydisseminatinginformationwhichreflectsAsad’spositiononcurrentissues.Theorgansoftheregime--army,party,securityservices,nationalandlocalauthorities--areproclaimedasactingbyorderofthepresident.WhilepersonalcommitmenttothelegitimacyofHafizal-Asadistheprincipal’articleoffaith’,thismessageissupportedbycomplementarymessages--AsadbeingtruetotheMoslemfaith;Asadashistoricleader;AsadasthefocusofidentityofallSyriancitizens;the’crimes’ofth
