The Rule of Violence: Subjectivity, Memory and Government in Syria (Cambridge Middle East Studies, Series Number 50)

Over much of its rule, the regime of Hafez al-Asad and his successor Bashar al-Asad deployed violence on a massive scale to maintain its grip on political power. In this book, Salwa Ismail examines the rationalities and mechanisms of governing through violence. In a detailed and compelling account, Ismail shows how the political prison and the massacre, in particular, developed as apparatuses of government, shaping Syrians' political subjectivities, defining their understanding of the terms of rule and structuring their relations and interactions with the regime and with one another. Examining ordinary citizens' everyday life experiences and memories of violence across diverse sites, from the internment camp and the massacre to the family and school, The Rule of Violence demonstrates how practices of violence, both in their routine and spectacular forms, fashioned Syrians' affective life, inciting in them feelings of humiliation and abjection, and infusing their lived environment with dread and horror. This form of rule is revealed to be constraining of citizens' political engagement, while also demanding of their action. Over Much Of Its Rule, The Syrian Regime Of Hafez Al-asad And His Successor, Bashar Al-asad, Used Violence On A Massive Scale, Deploying Disproportionate Physical And Destructive Force To Silence Its Critics And Opponents. Indeed, The Regime, As Constituted Under The Al-asads, Has As Its Nucleus Not Only The Figures Occupying The Top Rung Of Political Office, But Also The Apparatuses Of Violence, In Particular The Security Services And Elite Military Units. This Security Regime (al-nidham Al-amni) Has Consistently Acted In Ways That Convey The Message That Violence Is The Primary And Organising Modality Of Action In Dealing With Domestic Opposition. The Extent And Scope Of Killing And Destruction Mounted By The Security And Military Forces Over Approximately 40 Years Of Al-asad Regime Rule Has Made Manifest A Politics Of Extermination And Annihilation As Integral To The Form Of Rule In Syria. Rather Than Betraying An Irrational Approach To Government, This Violence Is Governmental, Not In The Sense Of Being Merely Repressive, But As Productive And Performative--as Shaping Regime-citizen Relations And Forming Political Subjectivities-- Introduction : The Government Of Violence -- Violence As A Modality Of Government In Syria -- Authoritarian Government, The Shadow State And Political Subjectivities -- Memories Of Life Under Dictatorship : The Everyday Of Ba'thist Syria -- Memories Of Violence : Hama 1982 -- The Performativity Of Violence And 'emotionalities Of Rule' In The Syrian Uprising -- Conclusion : The Rule Of Violence--formations Of Civil War -- Postscript. Salwa Ismail. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 205-218) And Index. "Over much of its rule, the Syrian regime of Hafez al-Asad and his successor, Bashar al-Asad, used violence on a massive scale, deploying disproportionate physical and destructive force to silence its critics and opponents. Indeed, the regime, as constituted under the al-Asads, has as its nucleus not only the figures occupying the top rung of political office, but also the apparatuses of violence, in particular the security services and elite military units. This security regime (al-nidham al-amni) has consistently acted in ways that convey the message that violence is the primary and organising modality of action in dealing with domestic opposition. The extent and scope of killing and destruction mounted by the security and military forces over approximately 40 years of al-Asad regime rule has made manifest a politics of extermination and annihilation as integral to the form of rule in Syria. Rather than betraying an irrational approach to government, this violence is governmental, not in the sense of being merely repressive, but as productive and performative--as shaping regime-citizen relations and forming political subjectivities"-- Provided by publisher Cover The Rule of Violence Cambridge Middle East Studies - Series page The Rule of Violence - Title page Copyright page Contents Preface Acknowledgements Introduction: The Government of Violence 1 - Violence as a Modality of Government in Syria 2 - Authoritarian Government, the Shadow State and Political Subjectivities 3 - Memories of Life under Dictatorship: The Everyday of Ba‘thist Syria 4 - Memories of Violence: Hama 1982 5 - The Performativity of Violence and ‘Emotionalities of Rule’ in the Syrian Uprising Conclusion: The Rule of Violence – Formations of Civil War Postscript References Index Other Books in the Series - Series page