Syria Under Assad: Domestic Constraints and Regional Risks (Routledge Library Editions: Syria) - Softcover

Maoz, Moshe; Yaniv, Avner

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1138983497 ISBN 13: 9781138983496

Publisher: Routledge, 2015

Synopsis

One of the most striking recent developments in the modern Middle East has been the transformation of Syria under Hafez al-Assad from a weak, vulnerable and internally divided state to a leading regional power. While this is increasingly acknowledged by observers of the Middle Eastern scene , the scholarly discussion of the origins, the scope, the durability and the implications of this change is only beginning to take place.

Syria Under Assad addresses itself to this discussion. Based on a carefully selected collection of original articles, this volume focuses on the elements of Syria’s power, on Syria’s relations with each of its neighbours as well as on Syria’s relations with the superpowers. In the final analysis, conclude the editors, Syrian policies appear paradoxical. Its conduct ever since the advent of Hafez al-Assad exhibits subtle and hard-nosed pragmatism. Yet, in order to consolidate the domestic legitimacy of the Alawi Ba’athist regime, Syria has been impelled to articulate its foreign policy goals in the far-flung rhetoric of the Ba’athist ideology. As a result Syria is widely perceived of as a menace and, treated as such, it often responds in kind.

About this title

About the Author

Moshe Maoz, Avner Yaniv

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2015
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1138983497
• ISBN 13: 9781138983496
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 288