The Ba'ath Party is a political party founded in the 1940s in Syria, promoting Arab nationalism and socialism. Its name means "Resurrection" in Arabic, reflecting its goal of uniting Arab countries and creating a single Arab state. The party gained significant influence in the mid-20th century, particularly in Iraq and Syria. The Ba'ath Party is known for its authoritarian rule, especially under leaders like Saddam Hussein in Iraq and Hafez al-Assad in Syria. The party's ideology emphasizes secularism, anti-imperialism, and economic development, but it has also been associated with repression and human rights abuses.