Political system of the Assad regime has been characterized as a hybrid of absolute monarchy and republic. Syrian security apparatus and the dreaded secret police are instrumentalized by the regime to instill terror among ordinary citizens to prevent critique of the President or organize demonstrations. Political dissidents Riad al-Turk and Suheir Atassi have described Ba'athist Syria as a "Kingdom of Silence" which maintains monopoly over political discourse by seeking the total de-politicization of the society itself.
political SyStem of tHE ASSAd rEGime hAS bEeN ChaRACtEriZed as a hybrId OF ABSoLuTe moNarchy And RePuBlIc. syRIan secURity ApPArAtus and the dreaDed secret poliCE Are iNstruMentaLized by thE Regime tO inStIll TeRrOr AmonG oRDiNary cItIZeNs TO prEveNT CrItiqUe Of THE presiDent Or oRGanizE dEmonSTrAtions. PolitiCaL diSsidentS rIad aL-turK AnD SuHeIr aTASsi HavE descRibed Ba'athisT SYrIA as a "KIngdom of SiLeNcE" wHICh maIntaINs monopOlY oVEr pOliTicAl disCourSe By SeekIng tHe Total de-PolitICizatiOn of The SocieTy Itself.