The Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party is a political party founded in the 1940s in Syria. It promotes the ideas of Arab nationalism, socialism, and unity among Arab countries. The party's ideology emphasizes the importance of social justice and economic development, aiming to create a unified Arab state. The Ba'ath Party gained significant power in several Arab nations, most notably in Iraq and Syria. In Iraq, it was led by Saddam Hussein from 1968 until 2003, while in Syria, it has been the ruling party since 1963, with Bashar al-Assad currently in power.