The Baath movement was created in Damascus in the 40's by the Christian Michel Aflak and the Sunni Muslim Salah ad-Din Bitar. In 1953 the movement became known as the Baath Arab Socialist Party. It reached its zenith in the 60's when it became one of the strongest expressions of Arab revolutionary nationalism.
Arab unity is at the core of Baath doctrine and prevails over all other objectives.
According Michel Aflak the Arab peoples form a single nation with the aspiration of becoming a State with its own specific role in the world. Although persuaded of the importance of secularity, he recognized the impact of Islam and advocated socialism. In the 50's the Baath Party called for a pluralist democracy and free elections. Although it is concerned about the Palestinian question, the Baath Party has not taken it up as a central cause. The Baath Party entered early onto the political scene in Syria where military and civilian governments succeeded one another after independence.