State and Tribes in Syria: Informal Alliances and Conflict Patterns explores the policies of the successive Syrian governments towards the Arab tribes and their reactions to these policies. The book examines the consequences of the relationship between state and tribe since the fall of the Ottoman Empire and its withdrawal from Syria in 1916 until the eruption of the current Syrian civil war. Throughout history and up to the present day, tribalism continues to influence many issues related to governance, conflict and stability in the Middle East and North Africa. The book provides a dissection of a crucial, but neglected axis of the current crisis on the relationship between the state and the tribes. The research draws on data gathered through interviews with members of Syrian tribes, as well as written literature in various languages including English, Arabic and French. The book combines the research focus of political scientists and anthropologists by relating the local patterns (communities and tribal affiliations) to the larger system (state institutions and policies) of which they are a part. State and Tribes in Syria: Informal Alliances and Conflict Patterns advances our knowledge of an under-studied component of the Syrian society: the tribes. Therefore it is a vital resource for students, scholars and policymakers interested in Syrian Studies and Middle Eastern Studies.

The ABC News correspondent’s riveting chronicle of his journey through the Middle East—and being held hostage by pro-Iranian terrorists in Beirut. A New York Times Notable Book—with an introduction by the author. On June 18, 1987, Charles Glass was kidnapped by pro-Iranian terrorists in a Shiite Muslim suburb of Beirut and held for sixty-two days. His daring escape on August 18, 1987, made headlines worldwide. But Glass never forgot the reason he was in Lebanon or abandoned the idea of a book capturing the splendid vitality and diversity of life in the Middle East. Tribes with Flags is the book Glass always meant it to be: A chronicle of his journey from the southern Turkish coast, around the bay of Alexandretta, and through Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon. Glass visited farms, slums, and refugee camps as well as royal friends in feudal palaces, capturing the entire spectrum of Levantine life. The journey ends with a gripping account of Glass’s kidnapping in Beirut—an intimate portrayal of life as a hostage—and his successful flight to freedom. “A literary and spiritual ramble through the countries of the Levant . . . Glass’s account of two months’ captivity and his escape bring to an exciting conclusion this engrossing, informative, unusual travel book.” —Publishers Weekly

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1825 edition. Excerpt: ... and never having suffered, as it is said, either Osmanlies or Arnaouts to displace them from their service. There is an old castle near the sea, in which are six pieces of cannon, which form all the ordnance of the town; and in this castle the military reside. There is also a ruined tower, called Boorjee-el-Bahr, built on a rock in the sea, and near the common landing place, as well as some few round towers, of little strength in the walls of the town themselves. The Marino, as it is called, has a good wharf for discharging goods, as boats can approach it sufficiently near for that purpose; and all along its front are ranged fine shafts of grey granite pillars erect, which are used for mooring the small vessels securely while they lie there. These are some of the remains of the ancient magnificence of Bairoot, once decorating the porticos of temples and palaces, and now presenting a striking picture of the changes to which all things are subject, as seen wound round by the cables and hawsers of a few place them small trading boats. The bazars, the streets, the dwelling-houses, and magazines of the town are better built than any of those which I had yet seen along the coast; the streets are sufficiently wide for all the purposes of passage and comfort where carriages are not used, and are all paved with large stones; the bazars are well furnished with the manufactures of the country and of Europe, as well as with all kinds of provisions; the dwelling-houses are lofty, spacious, and well-built, and some of the magazines near the sea-shore are equal to those found in similar sea-ports of England itself. Sl There are within the town three mosques, with their courts, fountains, and minarehs, the latter of a mean form. The Christian churches...

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Offering a fuller understanding of the complexities and particular patterns of state formation in regions where tribes have exercised a significant influence, this volume focuses on the continuing existence of tribal structures and systems in contemporary times, within contemporary nation-states. The contributors offer hypotheses as to why these groups have managed to survive and what impact they have had on modern states ... --backcover.

Excerpt from Travels Among the Arab Tribes Inhabiting the Countries East of Syria and Palestine Being then in India, I was unable to doomore than publish a Reply there to the aspersions of this Review, for criticisms they. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.