The future of the past. How the past contributes to the construction of Syrian national identity

History tells us about the past. History can be affected by our own view of the past. Literally, the word “history” and “story” come from the same root. However, the past is always presented in our present-day life in ways that can possibly influence our future. In such a way, the past contributes to the construction of the future or the identities of future generations. In every place in the world, legitimacy has its roots firmly anchored in the past. The legitimacy of property, the legitimacy of states, even the legitimacy of people’s existence on specified land, can only be proven by referring back to some past act or event. Sometimes the narration of the past or history is reformed to overturn peoples’ legitimate rights. This paper attempts to analyze the role of the past in the construction of national identity in Syria. To achieve this goal, we will begin with the legislative items, since they form a framework within which institutions work. The first step was thus to analyze the Syrian constitution because the constitution represents the basic law which gives the state its shape and identity. Second, antiquities law is also examined, as this law is specialized in objects which represent the cultural past. In the next step, I deal with institutions which are in direct contact with the people, such as museums and schools, that are considered to be the main resource for people to learn about their past or history. In the third step, I study the use of history by the political parties, which are manifestations of human common ideologies and orientations. Finally, some popular artworks are presented because they reflect the view of different ethnicities for history.