Syria 2011-2013

Azmi Bishara’s work constitutes a classic in the canon of literature on the Syrian Uprising. Bishara is not only a scholar providing detailed analyses of the tragic events unfolding between 2011-13, he is concurrently a political activist eloquently articulating the painful path to Syria’s freedom. -- Omar Imady, University of St Andrews, UK With this book, Azmi Bishara has produced the definitive account of the early years of Syria’s revolution — both through its inspiring phase of hope and then as it transformed into a brutal, bloody conflict. The period of 2011-13 was loaded with opportunities, but as Bishara makes clear, there were also many warnings of the grim future that likely lay ahead. As Bishara reflects, although so much of Syria today lies in ruins, ""Syrians themselves have become free,” having “overcome the paralysis of fear and realized what they are capable of.” Despite the haunting, painful story told throughout the book, that retrospective message of optimism should be a message received by all. -- Charles Lister * Middle East Institute * Essential reading on the antecedents of the Syrian revolution and its evolution from popular uprising to violent conflict. Bishara moves from the micro to the macro seamlessly and draws on a wealth of print sources and original field research. The result is a comprehensive and convincing explanation of the tragic trajectory of the Syrian revolution. It will serve as a model for future studies of contemporary revolutions. -- Kevin Mazur * International Crisis Group * This is the most detailed examination yet on the causes, course, and pivotal moments of the Syrian civil war. Bishara is to be commended for the extensive level of research conducted combined with a narrative prose that is accessible to the general public."" David W. Lesch is the Ewing Halsell Distinguished Professor at Trinity University and author of Syria: A Modern History. -- Professor David Lesch * Trinity University * This is a milestone in the literature on the early phase of the Syrian conflict, of which Bishara offers the best informed and most detailed account available. The wealth of primary sources, notably interviews with protagonists of the crisis, is truly remarkable. -- Thomas Pierret * Senior researcher at Aix Marseille Université. * This long-awaited translation of Bishara’s masterful study of the early phases of the Syrian revolution is a superb and beautifully detailed account of the events that launched Syria on the path to conflict. Unsparing in his assessment of the Assad regime yet mindful of the opposition’s frailty and constraints, Bishara gives voice to the determination of Syrians who took to the streets in 2011 and painstakingly traces the devastating effects of the violence the regime unleashed in response. Bishara’s book is certain to become the standard reference on the subject, and essential reading on the origins and early development of Syria’s ongoing tragedy. -- Professor Steven Heydemann * Smith College *