An Assessment of The Turning Points In Modern Syrian History
Abstract
Throughout its modern history, Syria has struggled to achieve socio-political stability due to a combination of internal and external dynamics. The collapse of the classical Ottoman order, the establishment of the French Mandate after the First World War, the failure of the liberal democratic system after independence, subsequent waves of military coups, and the rule of the Assad regime constitute the main turning points of instability in Syrian history. Syria's multi-ethnic society is deeply divided along religious, ethnic, and sectarian fault lines, creating fertile ground for socio-political fractures. Alongside imperialist designs targeting Syria, regional dynamics have further distanced the country from national unity, exacerbating the erosion of its internal structure. Thus, Syria's modern history has also been characterised by political polarisation and social conflict, primarily driven by military coups and various forms of political violence. This study examines modern Syrian history through its key turning points, spanning the period from the second half of the nineteenth century, when the effects of modernization were more keenly felt in the region, to the Syrian civil war that began in 2011. It attempts to demonstrate the internal and external dynamics of ruptures in Syrian history.
Keywords
Kaynakça
- Al-Qazazz, A. (1967). Military regimes and political stability in Egypt, Iraq and Syria. Berkeley Journal of Sociology, 12, 44–54.
- Arı, T. (2014). Middle East: Politics, War, and Diplomacy from the Past to the Present. Bursa: Dora Publishing.
- Ataman, M. (2012). Power struggle in Syria: The Baʿath regime, social demands and the international community. SETA Report, No. 6, 1–58.
- Babikian, N. S. (1980). Michel ‘Aflaq: A biographic outline. Arab Studies Quarterly, 2(2), 162–179.
- Cleveland, W. L. (2008). A History of the Modern Middle East. (Trans. Mehmet Harmancı). Istanbul: Agora Publishing.
- Cumhuriyet. (31 March 1949). “Government coup in Syria.”
- Cumhuriyet. (15 August 1949). “A new government coup in Syria.”
- Cumhuriyet. (26 February 1954). “A new revolution broke out in Syria.”
Ayrıntılar
Birincil Dil
İngilizce
Konular
Ortadoğu Çalışmaları
Bölüm
Araştırma Makalesi
Yazarlar
Yayımlanma Tarihi
30 Nisan 2026
Gönderilme Tarihi
30 Aralık 2025
Kabul Tarihi
27 Şubat 2026
Yayımlandığı Sayı
Yıl 2026 Cilt: 14 Sayı: 1