The political potential of Ya Hef in contemporary Syrian politics

Abstract

Slogans and songs are fundamental components of the revolutionary experience. In its linguistic and musical form, the phrase ya hef (‘what a shame’) became a slogan of the 2011 Syrian revolution and served as a force for instigating a socio-political change in contemporary Syria. This paper investigates ya hef and its political potential in contemporary Syrian politics from a discourse-analytical perspective. After borrowing theories from cultural studies, discourse analysis and political studies, the article analyses the strong revolutionary connotations of the slogan and song within the discursive repertoire of massacre politics, focusing on both the general and specific functions. Through a close analysis of the song’s text, the study maps out three main arguments associated with the expression: 1) ya hef as a moral protest against state-sanctioned injustice and oppression; 2) ya hef as a response to the sentiment of brotherly betrayal among Syrians; and 3) ya hef as a cathartic mechanism for national reconciliation and nation-building. This article concludes that the expression ya hef is not only politically engaged in taking a stand against al-Assad’s brutality; it also fulfils a dialogical function between the oppressor and the oppressed, the ruler and the ruled and al-Assad and the Syrian citizens. This research adds to a growing body of literature on the uses and functions of language in revolutions in general and the Arab Spring protests in particular.