The Makers of Modern Syria: The Rise and Fall of Syrian Democracy 1918-1958

Description

In the aftermath of World War I Syria paved a path towards democracy. Initially as part of the French mandate in the Middle East and latterly as an independent republic, Syria put in place the instruments of democratic government that it was hoped would lead to a stable future. This book tells the story of Syria's formative years, using previously-unseen material from the personal papers of Ahmad Sharabati, a prominent nationalist who served in different capacities during colonial times and early independence, first as minister of defense and then as minister of education. His experiences and those of others of his generation tell the story of Syria's short-lived democratic years, up to the union with Egypt as the United Arab Republic between 1958 and 1961.

Sami Moubayed is a Syrian historian and journalist. From 2012 to 2013, he was a visiting scholar at the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut, Lebanon. His articles on Middle East affairs have appeared in a variety of newspapers, including al-Ahram Weekly, al-Hayat, Gulf News, The Daily Star, Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, and Asia Times. He is a blogger with The Huffington Post and an online panelist with The Washington Post. He has written several books, including the best-selling Under the Black Flag (2016).

`This is a well-written history of Syria in the early to mid-twentieth century as seen primarily through the lives of Hajj Uthman Sharabati and his son Ahmad, both influential figures during French Mandate Syria and in the early independence period following 1946. The book is meticulously researched, and Sami Moubayed has mined and unearthed previously unknown primary Syrian documents to tell the stories of the lives of a number of prominent twentieth century Syrian politicians and political influencers.' - David W. Lesch, Ewing Halsell Distinguished Professor of History, Trinity University, `The Makers of Modern Syria is a moving tribute to the aristocrats who so ably piloted Syria to independence. Their accomplishments - and even their failings - are held up as a Golden Age of Syrian History by Sami Moubayed, a leading Syrian historian. He has carried out many interviews, paged through archives and steeped himself in the published and unpublished memoirs to write a fast-paced and dramatic narrative of triumph and heartbreak. All Syrians will find wisdom and perhaps inspiration in this collective biography about a seminal turning point in Syrian history when parliamentary life was vigorous contested and led by talented and educated men.' - Joshua Landis, Director of the Center for Middle East Studies, University of Oklahoma