Power and Policy in Syria: Intelligence Services, Foreign Relations and Democracy in the Modern Middle East (Library of Modern Middle East Studies)

In an unstable Middle East, beset by regional tensions and repercussions of the global war on terror, Syria is a key player. The bloodless coup by General Hafez al-Assad, in 1970, put in place a powerful autocratic machinery at the core of the state which continues till today under the control of his son Bashar. Here Radwan Ziadeh presents a fresh and penetrating analysis of Syria’s political structure -- a "despotic" state monopoly, a bureaucratic climate marked by fear, and the administrative structure through which centralized control is exercised. With a focus on Syria’s intelligence services which have significant influence in legal and policy decisions, and the conditions and patterns of foreign policy decision-making, particularly vis-?-vis the US, Power and Policy in Syria is essential reading for all those interested in Syria, the modern Middle East, International Relations and Security Studies. Contents......Page 6 Acronyms and Abbreviations......Page 8 Preface and Acknowledgements......Page 10 The Third Republic and the Syrian Authoritarianism......Page 14 The Third Republic and the Pyramid-building Theory......Page 27 The Ba'th Party......Page 33 The Security Organs......Page 36 Asad's Heritage......Page 40 The Syrian Elite and Democracy......Page 46 2. Inheriting Syria from Father to Son: Hafez al-Asad's Last Days......Page 50 Transfer of Power......Page 58 Bashar al-Asad and the Game of the 'Old Guard'......Page 61 Political Institutions in the Era of Bashar al-Asad......Page 67 3. Damascus Spring: The Rise of the Opposition in Syria......Page 74 Foreign Policy Decision-making......Page 90 Syria-Lebanese Relationships: Discomfort in the Brotherhood......Page 111 Syria-Lebanese Relations after 2000......Page 121 Syria after the Lebanon War: Reviving its Regional Role......Page 127 The Syrian-Arab Disagreement during the War......Page 129 Putting an End to the War......Page 131 Syria's Return to Active Diplomacy......Page 134 The Syrian Exploitation of the War......Page 135 Syria's Foreign-policy Challenges......Page 136 5. The Challenge of Political Islam: Muslim Brotherhood and Democracy......Page 142 The Early Relationship between Religion and State in Syria......Page 143 The Establishment of the Muslim Brotherhood in Syria......Page 146 Double Religious Containment Policy......Page 152 Climax of Armed Conflict......Page 153 The Rise of the Religious Tide in Syria......Page 164 Conclusion......Page 168 Notes......Page 170 References......Page 210 Index......Page 234 "As a result of the formation of the modern Turkish state, nationalist narratives of the Ottoman Empire's collapse are commonplace. "Remapping the Ottoman Middle East", on the other hand, examines alternative and disparate routes to modernity during the nineteenth century. Pursuing a comparison of different regions of the empire, this book demonstrates that the Ottoman imperial universe was shaped by three distinct and simultaneous narratives: market relations in its coastal areas; imperial bureaucracy in the cities of central Anatolia, Syria and Palestine; and, Islamic trust networks in the frontier regions of the Arabian Peninsula. In weaving together these localized developments, Cem Emrence departs from narratives of state centralism and suggests that a comprehensive way of understanding the late Ottoman world and its legacy should start from exploring regionally-constituted and network-based historical trajectories. Introducing a persuasive new model for understanding the late Ottoman world, this book will be essential reading for historians of the Ottoman Empire."--Bloomsbury publishing. As Bashar al-Asad rescinds emergency rule in the face of demonstrations and protests, Syria finds itself in a key position in a Middle East beset by regional tensions, the repercussions of the global'war on terror'and popular uprisings. The bloodless coup by General Hafez al-Assad, in 1970, put in place a powerful autocratic machinery at the core of the state which continues till today under the control of his son Bashar. Here Radwan Ziadeh presents a fresh and penetrating analysis of Syria's political structure - a'despotic'state monopoly, a bureaucratic climate marked by fear, and the administrative structure through which centralized control is exercised. With a focus on Syria's intelligence services which have significant influence in legal and policy decisions, and the conditions and patterns of foreign policy decision-making, particularly vis-a-vis the US,'Power and Policy in Syria'is essential reading for all those interested in Syria, the modern Middle East, International Relations and Security Studies. With A Focus On Syria's Intelligence Services Which Have Significant Influence In Legal And Policy Decisions, And The Conditions And Patterns Of Foreign Policy Decision-making, Power And Policy In Syria Is Indispensable For All Those Interested In Syria, The Modern Middle East, International Relations And Security Studies.--jacket. Birth Of The Third Republic And Establishing Syrian Authoritarianism -- Inheriting Syria From Father To Son: Hafez Al-asad's Last Days -- Damascus Spring: The Rise Of Opposition In Syria -- Bashar Al-asad And Foreign Policy -- The Challenge Of Political Islam: Muslim Brotherhood And Democracy. Radwan Ziadeh. Includes Bibliographical References (p.197-219) And Index. Presents a analysis of Syria's political structure -- a "despotic" state monopoly, a bureaucratic climate marked by fear, and the administrative structure through which centralized control is exercised. With a focus on Syria's intelligence services which have significant influence in legal and policy decisions, and the conditions and patterns of foreign policy decision-making, particularly vis-a-vis the US