Bashar al-Assad - Early Life and Rise to Power

A revealing look at Bashar al-Assad's transformation from an ophthalmologist training in London to becoming Syria's president. This episode explores his privileged upbringing in Damascus, his unexpected path to power following his brother's death, and how his father Hafez carefully prepared him to take control of Syria. We examine how the young doctor's Western education and professional background shaped his image as a potential reformer, even as he maintained his family's authoritarian grip on power through the Ba'ath Party and military institutions.