 Cohesive internal unity had all but collapsed within after the 1963 seizure of power ; Michel Aflaq , Salah al @-@ Din al @-@ Bitar , and their followers wanted to implement " classic " Ba 'athism in the sense that they wanted to establish a loose union with Nasser 's Egypt , implement a moderate form of socialism , and to have a one @-@ party state which respected the rights of the individual , tolerating freedom of speech and freedom of thought . However , the Aflaqites ( or Aflaqists ) were quickly forced into the background , and at the 6th National Ba 'ath Party Congress , the Military Committee and their supporters succeeding in creating a new form of Ba 'athism – a Ba 'athism strongly influenced by Marxism – Leninism . This new form of Ba 'athism laid emphasis on " revolution in one country " rather than to unifying the Arab world . At the same time , the 6th National Congress implemented a resolution which stressed the implementation of a socialist revolution in Syria . Under this form of socialism , the economy as a whole would adhere to state planning and the commanding heights of the economy and foreign trade were to be nationalised . They believed these policies would end exploitation of labour , that capitalism would disappear , and in agriculture they envisioned a plan were land was given " to he who works it " . However , private enterprise would still exist in retail trade , construction , tourism , and small industry in general . These changes and more would refashion the Ba 'ath Party into a Leninist party . 
