As the ninth anniversary of Russia's military intervention in Syria approaches on September 30, 2024, figures from the Syrian Ministry of Education reveal a significant rise in the number of students studying the Russian language in Syrian schools, reaching 39,500 students from seventh grade to the second year of high school.
Over the past nine years of Russia's presence on Syrian soil since 2015, Moscow has pursued a parallel approach, utilizing a "smart power" strategy—a blend of both soft and hard power tactics. Through this strategy, Russia has combined a strong military presence, notably through the Hmeimim airbase, with cultural influence, particularly through the promotion of the Russian language and culture. This dual effort has opened new avenues for cultural penetration and dominance.
Since its military intervention in support of Bashar al-Assad's regime, Russia has sought to entrench its influence in Syria gradually and through unconventional means, specifically by institutionalizing the teaching of Russian language and culture in the Syrian public education system. To what extent has Moscow succeeded in this endeavor, and what are the potential implications of such a strategy?
Cultural Penetration
Since 2015, Syria has experienced a noticeable rise in the study of the Russian language and culture, both at official and popular levels. Common Russian phrases such as "priviet" (hello), "kak dela" (how are you), and "spasibo" (thank you) have become increasingly widespread. This growing influence can be observed in several ways:
1. Teaching Russian in Syrian Curricula as a Second Language:
In 2015, the Russian language was officially introduced into Syrian educational curricula as an optional second foreign language, alongside English and French, at the primary education level.
2. Increase in the Number of Russian Language Learners:
According to the Syrian Ministry of Education, the number of students studying Russian as a second language has grown significantly, reaching approximately 39,500 students this year. This is up from 24,000 students in 2020 and over 31,000 the following year. These students are distributed across 217 schools in 12 governorates and taught by 190 Russian language teachers.
3. A Joint Committee to Develop Curricula:
In August, the Syrian Ministry of Education received about 5,000 Russian language textbooks for the seventh grade, developed by a joint committee from the Syrian and Russian Ministries of Education. These books will be used experimentally in the upcoming academic year in six governorates: Damascus, Homs, Tartous, Lattakia, Sweida, and Daraa.
4. Scholarships in Russian Universities:
A Russian language department was established at Damascus University in 2015. As a result of growing cooperation between the Russian and Syrian Ministries of Education, one thousand Syrian students have been awarded scholarships annually to study at Russian universities. Since 2019, the total number of Syrian students studying in Russia has reached 5,000. Additionally, since 2020, six classrooms have been set up in the Syrian Ministry of Education to offer remote Russian language instruction via the internet.
5. Cultural Activities in Russian:
In 2021, as part of an academic exchange that had been ongoing for over three years, Al Baath University in Syria, in collaboration with Moscow Technological University, organized the Russian Language Olympiad. This event saw the participation of 200 students from Syrian schools, universities, and the Higher Institute of Languages in Homs, as well as other graduates. In 2022, the Arab Cultural Center in Kafr Sousa, Damascus, in cooperation with the Russian Cultural Center, held an exhibition featuring Russian educational and recreational books, with a special section dedicated to children's books in Russian.
The rise of Russian cultural influence in Syria reflects both supply and demand. On the supply side, there has been an increasing effort from Russia to promote its language and culture through official government cooperation between the Russian Ministry of Education and its Syrian counterpart. This includes providing annual scholarships for Syrian students at Russian universities and organizing cultural activities such as the Russian Language Olympiad and children's book exhibitions.
On the demand side, there is a growing interest among Syrian students in studying Russian and obtaining scholarships, reflecting a broader attraction to Russian culture. Commercial stores have also begun incorporating Russian into their signage, responding to the tangible presence of Russians on the ground in Syria. This dynamic demonstrates both an official push from Russia to expand its cultural reach and a popular interest within Syria to engage with the Russian language and culture.
Mutual Motivations
The motivations for studying the Russian language and culture in Syria can be categorized into political and military, economic and social, as well as factors related to regional and international competition over Syria, as outlined below:
1. Political and Military Objectives:
In 2015, the formal participation of Russian forces in the Syrian war to support the Assad regime coincided with the Syrian Ministry of Education officially recognizing Russian as a second foreign language within the national curriculum. This suggests that the Syrian regime may have aimed to foster popular support for the Russian presence by institutionalizing Russian language education in government schools and enhancing cooperation between the education ministries of both countries. This initiative not only facilitated a deeper understanding of the culture of Damascus' primary military ally but also solidified Russia's position in Syria.
Moreover, since the early days of Russia's military involvement, there has been a strong need for Syrians—on both the regime and opposition sides—to learn Russian, particularly in the context of air warfare and military operations. Russian forces played a decisive role in many military confrontations, and understanding Russian military terminology became essential for progress on the battlefield. Learning the language allowed Syrian actors to better engage with Russian strategies, movements, and planning, making it a crucial tool for coordination and understanding the operational environment in which Moscow was a key player.
2. Economic and Social Motivations:
Amidst the ongoing internal repercussions of the Syrian war, including deteriorating economic and humanitarian conditions, there has been a growing trend towards learning the Russian language, driven by the hope of obtaining scholarships and traveling to Russia. Russia prioritizes individuals who have studied the language, offering them better opportunities for education and relocation. In recent years, Russia has also invested heavily in Syrian economic projects, particularly in infrastructure and reconstruction. Examples include the rebuilding of the port of Tartous, the modernization of the fertilizer production plant in Homs, and the restoration of several oil and gas fields. Additionally, during the meeting between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Bashar al-Assad in March 2023, 40 agreements were signed, targeting key sectors such as energy, electricity, oil, infrastructure, housing, and industrial development.
These long-term projects necessitate a sustained Russian presence in Syria, further reinforcing the importance of studying the Russian language and culture. Compared to other regional competitors in Syria—namely Iran and Turkey—Russia holds a distinct advantage. Unlike Tehran, which places emphasis on religious and sectarian dimensions, and Ankara, which has ongoing disputes with Syria, Russia maintains a more neutral stance. It is not embroiled in issues like the Kurdish question, as Turkey is, nor does it pursue a sectarian agenda, like Iran's Shiite expansion.
This more pragmatic approach has contributed to the growing demand for learning Russian, as it aligns with broader Russian-Syrian interests and appeals to Syrian youth seeking scholarships and opportunities abroad. For some, mastering the Russian language offers not only the prospect of studying in Russia but also a potential pathway to Europe. The cultural rapprochement between Russia and Syria, therefore, extends beyond immediate political or military needs, offering tangible benefits for young Syrians looking to escape the country's economic hardships.
3. Regional and International Competition over Syria:
One of the key motivations for Russia's strategy, which combines both military and cultural dimensions, is the intense regional and international competition over Syria. Russia is not only contending with global adversaries like the United States and the West but also with regional competitors such as Iran and Turkey. Through its extensive involvement in Syria, Russia has developed valuable lessons in long-term strategic management, including the ability to make swift but measured decisions and to assert its presence effectively with a strong initial strike. Both Iran and Turkey have attempted to replicate Russia's approach by promoting the study of Turkish and Persian languages among Syrians, alongside their military presence. However, Moscow has managed to maintain the upper hand in this competition.
Russia views the expansion of Russian language and culture in Syria as a means of further entrenching its influence. By promoting its language, Moscow aims to present itself as the most comprehensive and integrated partner in Syria, offering more than just military support. This cultural approach allows Russia to deepen its penetration into Syrian society and consolidate its long-term presence.
Additionally, Russia's motivations extend to the need to redeploy its resources and reduce external military expenditures, especially in light of its ongoing war in Ukraine. The cultural outreach in Syria, particularly through the spread of the Russian language and culture, offers a cost-effective way for Russia to maintain its influence without a large military footprint. As the war in Ukraine has become Moscow's top priority, Russia has scaled down its forces in Syria, even withdrawing from some areas it once controlled in Latakia. Nevertheless, Russia still views its presence in Syria as crucial, not only for maintaining influence in the region but also as a bargaining chip in its negotiations with the West.
Various Reflections
Although the cultural rapprochement between Russia and Syria in the past nine years has provided more educational opportunities both inside and outside Syria, it has many implications not only for the future of the Russian presence in the country but perhaps also for the Iranian and Turkish presence there, as follows:
1. Further Russian Penetration in Syria:
The cultural rapprochement between Russia and Syria plays a strategic role in providing popular support for the Russian military presence and facilitating its potential expansion in the future. This was evident when President Bashar al-Assad welcomed the possibility of establishing additional Russian military bases in Syria during his meeting with President Vladimir Putin in March 2023. Should Russia resolve its prolonged war in Ukraine, it may attempt to reposition and expand its forces in Syria, with the established cultural ties serving as a foundation for deeper penetration.
2. Cultural Cover for Military Plans:
Russia's military presence in Syria currently extends beyond its airbase in Hmeimim to include the port of Tartus. Additionally, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the reopening of the Al-Jarrah military airbase in northern Syria for joint use. However, the scale of Russia's military commitment in Syria is influenced by the dynamics of the ongoing war in Ukraine. Russian forces withdrew from key areas in Latakia to redirect resources toward Ukraine, which allowed Iranian-affiliated forces to take control of those regions. Despite this military shift, Russia has relied on its growing cultural influence to maintain its strategic foothold in Syria, ensuring a balance of power even as its military presence fluctuates.
3. Limiting Iran's Influence in Syria:
An increase in the study of Russian language and culture in Syria could serve as a counterbalance to Iran's attempts to expand the teaching of Persian. Syrian resistance to Persian language instruction stems from concerns about the potential spread of Shiism, as the cultural relationship between Iran and Syria carries strong sectarian undertones. In recent years, Iran has sought to introduce Persian into Syrian government curricula, following an agreement to exchange experiences in the educational field. By 2021, Iran had successfully introduced Persian in certain government schools, renovated them, and opened Persian language centers at universities in Damascus and Homs. Iranian universities, such as Tarbiat Modares University, Mustafa University, Farabi University, and Azad Islamic University, have also established branches in Syria.
However, Iran faces challenges in promoting its cultural agenda due to Russia's stronger presence in Syrian schools and universities. The growing influence of the Russian language and culture offers an alternative to Iran's efforts, limiting the reach of Persian language instruction and the associated sectarian elements.
4. Putting Turkey in a Dilemma:
Turkey has struggled to leverage cultural influence in Syria in the same way Russia has since its intervention in 2015. Despite hosting over three million Syrians, Turkey has been unable to replicate the cultural penetration achieved by Russia or even Iran. While Turkey's cultural proximity may not be viewed as a threat to Syria's domestic peace, as Iran's influence sometimes is, the deepening cultural ties between Russia and Syria could place Turkey in a difficult position, highlighting its inability to effectively assert similar influence.
The teaching of Russian language and culture in Syria serves as a powerful tool for Moscow, fostering medium- and long-term penetration and dominance. For the Syrian regime, which prioritizes stability amidst the continued repercussions of the Syrian war, the Russian cultural expansion offers an opportunity to strengthen ties with its primary military ally.
From a popular perspective, many Syrians see learning Russian as a pragmatic choice, offering potential economic benefits. Proficiency in Russian opens up job opportunities domestically within the growing number of Russian-backed projects, as well as scholarships that could lead to further educational and professional opportunities in Russia and, potentially, other European countries. This pragmatic approach enhances Russia's cultural influence, leaving Turkey unable to effectively compete in this domain.
