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. Cover Author Biography Title Page Copyright Dedication Contents List of Plates Acknowledgements Maps 1. Hands That Give, Never Take A Self-made Man A Seasoned Businessman 2. Damascus Occupied Eyewitness to History The Maysaloun Tragedy Charles Crane in Damascus Funding and Founding the People’s Party The AUB and MIT Influence Birth of a Political Class 3. Syria in Revolt The First Shelling of Damascus Fundraising for the Revolt Life in Egypt Assessment of the Great Revolt 4. The League of National Action The National Bloc Life in Damascus The League of National Action Sad Tidings Why the League of National Action Matters 5. Encounter of a Lifetime Welcome to Damascus A New Home 6. The Enemy of My Enemy Syria and World War II The Fall of France Turning the Nazi Tide The Spears Mission Restoring the Syrian Presidency 7. A New Dawn: August 1943 Roosevelt and the Syrians The Election Campaign The Fourth President of Syria Reaching out to the World Syria goes to War against Hitler Repositioning Syria 8. Blessed are the Educators The Educational Scene in 1945 The Sharabati-Husari Reforms Scouts and Summer Camps Damascus University Great Accomplishments Wise Words and Brave Deeds Baathism and Education 9. Evacuation Rain before the Storm The 2008 Documents Free at last 10. Dark Clouds Mardam Bey Returns The Rise of Akram al-Hawrani and the Baath The Syrian Army before 1948 11. On the Brink of War: The Sharabati Papers I The Three-way Partition of Palestine The Army of Deliverance 12. The Nakba: The Sharabati Papers II Highly Classified and Confidential Military Preparations Syrian Weapons Abdullah’s Separate Track The Fighting Begins The Battle of Samakh Unjust Accusations 13. The Dictator of Damascus Al-Za’im and Israel Oil and the Middle East A New Life Back in Syria 14. The United Arab Republic and its Aftermath The United Arab Republic Secession from the UAR The End Dramatis Personae Notes Bibliography Index