• FlowVoid@lemmy.world
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        15 hours ago

        I don’t believe Syria ever styled itself “Democratic”. But the Syrian Republic was certainly a republic.

        For that matter, so was the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

        A republic is simply a nation with no monarch. If you don’t believe me ask any Canadian, as they are constantly debating whether to officially leave the British crown and become a republic.

        • ghurab@lemmy.world
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          7 hours ago

          Not as a title, but if i recall correctly, the first first article of the old constitution states that the Syrian Arab Republic is a Democracy. Also for what it’s worth, the Baath party was also officially “socialist”.

          The lack of a monarchy isn’t enough to qualify as a republic, the people need to also hold some sort of power.

          • FlowVoid@lemmy.world
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            14 minutes ago

            Being a republic has nothing to do with whether ordinary people hold power. For example in Plato’s Republic, power was exclusively held by philosophers because ordinary people were unwise and could not be trusted.

        • Danquebec@sh.itjust.works
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          13 hours ago

          Yea, the name is originally in latin res publica, meaning “public matter”. In opposition to a kingdom that is the private domain of a single person.