I think that Mr. Assad cares very much for his country, and I think that he sees himself as a kind of savior. That is why he has held onto his political power beyond what was legal for him to do. It was only a matter of time before the Syrians became upset.
He likes democracy, but he doesn't believe his citizens would do well without him. The citizens don't believe him. He is, yes, trying to resist evil. It is a difficult situation for him, because he worries who will take his place. He is losing his power, however. His best option is to seek a diplomatic solution with a foreign country that both he and his opponents can trust. Perhaps Egypt would work, although Egypt is currently in a political crisis. I think he should avoid superpowers like USA, China, Russia. He will get more help from a country that has few interests in the region. The foreign power, one he can trust, he should allow to supervise his government to insure that his successor is not a bloodthirsty tyrant and will work for the benefit of all Syrians. I believe his opponents would be satisfied, and the civil war could be ended. It is all about trust.