Power and Policy in Syria

As Bashar al-Asad rescinds emergency rule in the face of demonstrations and protests Syria finds itself in a key position in a Middle East beset by regional tensions the repercussions of the global ''war on terror'' and popular uprisings. The bloodless coup by General Hafez al-Assad in 1970 put in place a powerful autocratic machinery at the core of the state which continues till today under the control of his son Bashar. Here Radwan Ziadeh presents a fresh and penetrating analysis of Syria''s political structure - a ''despotic'' state monopoly a bureaucratic climate marked by fear and the administrative structure through which centralized control is exercised. With a focus on Syria''s intelligence services which have significant influence in legal and policy decisions and the conditions and patterns of foreign policy decision-making particularly vis-a-vis the US ''Power and Policy in Syria'' is essential reading for all those interested in Syria the modern Middle East International Relations and Security Studies.