Citation

Hinnebusch R. History Compass 2008; 6(1): 263-285.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1478-0542.2007.00487.x

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This article examines major issues and debates in the study of modern Syrian politics including the identity crisis rooted in state formation; reasons for the failure of the early liberal experiment; the nature of the Ba'th regime and whether it can be considered to have carried out a revolution; explanations for the stabilization of the regime under Asad; the nature of Ba'thist political economy; the extent, causes, and consequences of economic liberalization; explanations for succession and the character of Bashar's rule; and the relation between the state and international forces.