The Ba'athist ideology

[Seeker_of_Truth]

What exactly is the basis of the Ba'athist ideology? It is in Syria and was in Iraq. But in Iraq, Saddam persecuted the Shi-ites and in Syria the president is a Shi-ite. Do they follow the same ideology?

[gag order]

baathism is the ethinically defined expression of the defeated ideology of 'arab socialism.' which was often characterised by economic and social ideals that were not quite communist and certainly not capitalist.

arab socialist thought had much in common with its marxist east european counterpart. but differred with respect to materialism and athiesm. it was adapted to incorporate religious beliefs of the arabs but relegates religion to mere rituals of personal devotion.

since baathism is ethnically defined socialist thought, its not surprising that there was a sunni baathist government that existed alongside a rafidite baathist government.