Analysis of the Status of the Alawid Shiites in Syria Using the SWOT Strategic Model

The Alawid Shiite is one of the sects derived from Shiism with an extremist tendency. Today, Alawids form a part of the Shiite world. Most historians trace their appearance back to the third century. The result of this historical evolution is a group of Alawids settled now in Turkey and Syria. The present article raises the question of ‘what opportunities and challenges facing the Alawids in Syria are’ to explain the status of the Alawid Shiites through a descriptiveanalytical method and using SWOT model, presenting the proper strategy for promoting their position. Analysis of the findings shows that the Alawids of Syria enjoy the minimum population, have an Anti-Israelite position, lack the strong economic backup, and face the global unanimity against Bashar Assad. Thus, they can choose defensive strategies and take constructive policies and tolerance as well as extensive social and economic reformation and avoiding sectarianism to improve their own status in Syria.