Syria's Democratic Years: Citizens, Experts, and Media in the 1950s

by Kevin W. Martin

Overview

The years 1954–1958 in Syria are popularly known as "The Democratic Years," a brief period of civilian government before the consolidation of authoritarian rule. Kevin W. Martin provides a cultural history of the period and argues that the authoritarian outcome was anything but inevitable. Examining the flourishing broadcast and print media of the time, he focuses on three public figures, experts whose professions—law, the military, and medicine—projected modernity and modeled the new Arab citizen. This experiment with democracy, however abortive, offers a model of governance from Syria's historical experience that could serve as an alternative to dictatorship.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780253018878
Publisher:	Indiana University Press
Publication date:	11/24/2015
Series:	Public Cultures of the Middle East and North Africa
Pages:	234
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.70(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Kevin W. Martin is Assistant Professor of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures and Adjunct Assistant Professor of History at Indiana University.

Table of Contents

Introduction The Virtuous Citizen and the Postcolonial State
1. Syria during the Democratic Years
2. The Citizen and the Law
3. Social Justice and the Patriarchal Citizen
4. Punishing the Enemies of Arabism
5. Making the Martial Citizen
6. The Magic of Modern Pharmaceuticals
7. Sex and the Conjugal Citizen
Conclusion Citizens on the Tenth Day

What People are Saying About This

Princeton University - Max Weiss

[A] book that will be both immediately valuable to scholars and teachers, and a significant contribution to historical scholarship on the cultural history of modern Syria. . . . In light of the endlessly unfolding tragedy in Syria, this kind of careful historical scholarship is increasingly important, and likely to become unfortunately rare. . . . [F]ill[s] one of many gaps in the historiography of modern and contemporary Syria.

Universityof Denver - Andrea Stanton

[A]n important contribution to understanding twentieth-century Syrian history, and particularly to understanding how and why post-Mandate Syria turned to authoritarianism rather than democracy. . . . [O]ffers insights into developments in other post-Ottoman states, [with] lessons for the broader region as well.

National Universityof Singapore - Peter Sluglett

[A]n extremely interesting story, deftly told and beautifully written . . . . [M]akes an important contribution to our understanding of Syrian history.

Editorial Reviews

"Martin's work is a successful and nuanced account of the historical contingencies that contributed to the resilience of Syrian authoritarianism."—American Historical Review

"Syria's Democratic Years is a gem that deserves an audience beyond historians of 20th century Syria. The writing is lucid, at times elegant. The study of middlebrow media is enriched by interviews in Damascus, memoirs, archives, court records, and United States diplomatic records. Martin shows a deft touch for using cultural theory and comparative history to lend the book intellectual depth and relevance beyond the case at hand."—The Middle East Journal

"[A] book that will be both immediately valuable to scholars and teachers, and a significant contribution to historical scholarship on the cultural history of modern Syria. . . . In light of the endlessly unfolding tragedy in Syria, this kind of careful historical scholarship is increasingly important, and likely to become unfortunately rare. . . . [F]ill[s] one of many gaps in the historiography of modern and contemporary Syria."—Max Weiss, Princeton University

"[A]n important contribution to understanding twentieth-century Syrian history, and particularly to understanding how and why post-Mandate Syria turned to authoritarianism rather than democracy. . . . [O]ffers insights into developments in other post-Ottoman states, [with] lessons for the broader region as well."—Andrea Stanton, University of Denver

"[A]n extremely interesting story, deftly told and beautifully written . . . . [M]akes an important contribution to our understanding of Syrian history."—Peter Sluglett, National University of Singapore

From the Publisher

Martin's work is a successful and nuanced account of the historical contingencies that contributed to the resilience of Syrian authoritarianism.

American Historical Review

Syria's Democratic Years is a gem that deserves an audience beyond historians of 20th century Syria. The writing is lucid, at times elegant. The study of middlebrow media is enriched by interviews in Damascus, memoirs, archives, court records, and United States diplomatic records. Martin shows a deft touch for using cultural theory and comparative history to lend the book intellectual depth and relevance beyond the case at hand.

The Middle East Journal