Syria 1945-1986 (RLE Syria): Politics and SocietySyria has often lacked sympathetic observers. This book tries to interpret the country and its people in terms of how they see their own history and of what they are trying to achieve. More than a political or diplomatic history, it discusses the economy, society, education and culture to help the reader understand and explain modern Syria. A description of the country deals with the physical and other factors which have influenced Syria’s development. An historical survey concentrates mainly on the period after the Second World War and explains why a knowledge of Syrian history is important and why Syrians look at their history in the way they do. The achievements, problems and failures of President Asad are fully discussed. Further chapters explain the ideological factors which have been of vital importance in Syrian politics, the development of education, the economy and society. The author looks at examples of contemporary Syrian literature and the way in which writers view the problems of their society and culture. This is a clear, succinct and readable account of modern Syria which will be essential for all those studying the Middle East, the developing world or international relations. |
From inside the book
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... leader Saladin was buried in Damascus to the north of the Great Mosque in a tomb which nearly eight hundred years later assumed a new historical significance. During this long era the city gradually expanded into the surrounding areas ...
... leader of the citizens of Medina for whom he had to establish a system of government, of laws and institutions. Islam became a total way of life, regulating public and private activity. For thirteen centuries this religion has been at ...
... leaders (imams) whose reappearance all Shiis await. Their religion is a particularly intense kind of devotion and the supreme reward is martyrdom in battle fighting for their cause. Shiism spread to several parts of the Islamic world ...
... leadership of the famed Saladin, which was able to inflict heavy defeats on the Crusaders and expel them from Jerusalem in 1187. Syrians look upon him as a hero who drove out foreign invaders. If some contemporary attitudes are based on ...
... leader, Muhammad Ali. He was of Albanian origin and used the country to further his own ambitions. He was a formidable man who inaugurated a new era in Egyptian history by changing it economically and socially. He welcomed European ...
Contents
1935 | |
Independence 19451970 | 1945 |
Syria under Asad 19711986 | 18 |
Politics and Ideologies | |
The Search for Economic Progress | |
The Pursuit of Education | |
The Growth of Culture | |
People and Society | |
Conclusion | |
Index | |