Syria's Democratic Years

This study of mid-20th century Syria blends “cultural theory and comparative history” to offer “intellectual depth and relevance beyond the case at hand” ( The Middle East Journal ). When Syria became fully independent in 1946, the young republic faced the task of forging a new national identity. From 1954 to 1958, Syria enjoyed a brief period of civilian government—popularly known as “The Democratic Years”—before the consolidation of authoritarian rule. In Syria’s Democratic Years , Kevin W. Ma