As the ninth anniversary of the Russian military intervention in Syria approaches on September 30, 2024, figures from the Syrian Ministry of Education reveal a noticeable increase in the number of students studying Russian in Syrian schools. The number has reached 39,500 students from seventh grade to the second year of secondary school.
Over the past nine years since Russia’s presence on Syrian soil in 2015, Russian policy has followed a dual-track approach, focusing on strategies of “smart power,” a blend of soft and hard power strategies. Through this, Russia managed to combine its military presence on Syrian soil, notably through the Hmeimim Air Base, with a cultural presence, by promoting the teaching of Russian language and culture. This effort has opened new avenues for Russian cultural penetration and dominance.
Since its military intervention in the Syrian war on behalf of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, Russia has sought to gradually and unconventionally cement its foothold by institutionalizing the teaching of Russian language and culture in Syrian public education. To what extent has Moscow succeeded in this effort? And what are the potential consequences of this Russian approach?
Cultural Penetration
Since 2015, Syria has witnessed a noticeable increase in the study of Russian language and culture, both officially and popularly. Russian words such as “Privyet” (Hello), “Kak dela?” (How are you?), and “Spasibo” (Thank you) have become more common. This trend can be observed through several developments:
Teaching Russian in Syrian Curriculums as a Second Language: The official teaching of Russian in Syrian school curriculums began in 2015, making it an optional second foreign language alongside English and French in basic education.
Increase in Russian Language Learners: According to the Syrian Ministry of Education, there has been a significant rise in the number of students learning Russian as a second language. The number reached about 39,500 students this year, compared to around 24,000 in 2020, and over 31,000 in 2021. These students are distributed across 217 schools in 12 provinces, with 190 teachers assigned to teach the language.
Joint Committee for Curriculum Development: In August, the Syrian Ministry of Education received around 5,000 textbooks for teaching Russian in the seventh grade. These books were jointly authored by a committee from both the Syrian and Russian Ministries of Education and will be piloted in six Syrian provinces: Damascus, Homs, Tartus, Latakia, Sweida, and Daraa.
Scholarships at Russian Universities: A Russian language department was opened at the University of Damascus in the 2015 academic year. One of the results of cooperation between the Russian and Syrian Ministries of Education is that around 1,000 Syrian students annually receive scholarships to Russian universities, bringing the total number of Syrians studying in Russia to 5,000 since 2019. Additionally, six online classes were established by the Syrian Ministry of Education in 2020 to teach Russian remotely.
Russian Language Cultural Activities: In 2021, following over three years of academic exchange, Al-Baath University in Syria, in cooperation with Moscow Technological University, organized the first Russian Language Olympiad, with 200 students participating from various Syrian schools, universities, and language institutes. In 2022, the Arab Cultural Center in Kafr Souseh, Damascus, in cooperation with the Russian Cultural Center, held an exhibition for Russian educational and recreational books, including a section dedicated to Russian children’s books.
The spread of Russian culture in Syria has involved both a supply and demand dynamic. On the supply side, Russia has increased efforts to teach Russian language and culture through official governmental cooperation, student scholarships to Russian universities, and various cultural events aimed at attracting a broad popular base. On the demand side, Syrians have shown increasing interest in learning Russian, with many students seeking scholarships and businesses posting signs in Russian due to the tangible Russian presence in the country.
Mutual Motivations
The reasons behind the study of Russian language and culture in Syria can be divided into political and military, economic and social, and regional and international competition-related motivations:
Political and Military Objectives: Russia’s involvement in the Syrian war to support the Assad regime in 2015 coincided with the Syrian Ministry of Education’s official inclusion of Russian as a second foreign language. The Syrian regime likely sought to provide popular support for the Russian presence by institutionalizing Russian language education. There was also a practical need for learning Russian among both regime and opposition factions due to the heavy involvement of Russian forces, particularly in air warfare and military operations, making Russian a crucial language for advancing military strategies.
Economic and Social Motivations: As the war in Syria continues to devastate the economy and living conditions, many Syrians have turned to learning Russian, hoping to secure scholarships and the opportunity to study or work in Russia. Large-scale Russian economic projects in Syria, such as rebuilding the port of Tartus, modernizing the fertilizer factory in Homs, and restoring oil and gas fields, have created long-term demand for Russian speakers.
Regional and International Competition: Russia’s approach, which combines military and cultural strategies, also stems from the competitive regional and international environment surrounding Syria. Russia has positioned itself as a dominant player in Syria, outmaneuvering both its international rivals, such as the United States, and regional competitors like Iran and Turkey. This cultural penetration helps Russia present itself as Syria’s most comprehensive partner, surpassing others in influence.
Different Impacts
Despite the educational and cultural opportunities that have arisen from the Russian-Syrian cultural closeness, this relationship has broader implications not only for the future of Russian presence in Syria but also for the roles of Iran and Turkey. The growing Russian influence may reduce Iran’s efforts to spread Persian culture and religion in Syria, while Turkey struggles to make significant cultural inroads.
In conclusion, the teaching of Russian language and culture in Syria serves as a tool for Russia’s long-term penetration and dominance. This cultural expansion helps strengthen Russia’s influence in Syria, offering Syrians pragmatic opportunities for education and employment. Ultimately, the cultural relationship deepens the bond between Moscow and Damascus, solidifying Russia’s role as a key player in Syria’s future.
