Assad: The Triumph of Tyranny

by Con Coughlin

'Important, compelling, and detailed . . . a superb analysis of the West’s policy missteps and the tragic consequences of them.' - General David Petraeus

In The Triumph of Tyranny, Con Coughlin, veteran commentator on war in the Middle East and author of The Secret Life, examines how a mild-mannered ophthalmic surgeon has transformed himself into the tyrannical ruler of a once flourishing country.

Until the Arab Spring of 2011, the world’s view of Bashar al-Assad was largely benign. He and his wife, a former British banker, were viewed as philanthropic individuals doing their best to keep their country at peace. So much so that a profile of Mrs Assad in American Vogue was headlined ‘The Rose in the Desert’. Shortly after it appeared, Syria descended into the horrific civil war that has seen its cities reduced to rubble and thousands murdered and displaced, a civil war that is still raging over a decade later.

In this vivid and authoritative account Con Coughlin draws together all the strands of Assad's remarkable story, revealing precisely how a young doctor ensured not only that he inherited the presidency from his father, but has held on to power by whatever means necessary, continuing to preside over one of the most brutal regimes of modern times.

Genres: History, Middle East, Biography, Politics, Audiobook, Nonfiction

285 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 22, 2023

Reviews

[Osama · Rating 3 out of 5]

في ظل الأحداث المتسارعة التي مرت بها سوريا خلال الشهر الماضي، وجدت هذا الكتاب الحديث الذي يتناول سيرة بشار الأسد والذي تم نشره في شهر مايو من العام الماضي. مؤلف الكتاب صحفي له خبرة طويلة بشؤون غرب آسيا (ما يسمى بالشرق الأوسط)، وسبق أن ألف عددا من الكتب المشابهة عن إيران والعراق.

من خلال قرائتي للكتاب شعرت وكأن المؤلف يتنبأ بمجريات الأحداث في سوريا بدقة شديدة، سواء من حيث الانهيار السريع للنظام الحاكم، والفساد الذي نخر أركانه العسكرية والسياسية، وكذلك فقدان الأمل لدى حلفاءه وإطلاق رصاصة الرحمة عليه.

ركز المؤلف على تحليل شخصية الرئيس السابق بشار الأسد مقارنة بشخصية والده حافظ الأسد، وكيف أن الابن لم يكن قادرا على الإمساك بزمام أمور الدولة، واتخذ قرارات خاطئة، مما أتاح الفرصة للكثير من الأطراف الخارجية، وكذلك أذرع حزب البعث من الحرس القديم، للتدخل خدمة لمصالحهم الذاتية.

رغم تحفظي الشديد على ما يقدمه الإعلام الغربي من آراء حول قضايا العالم الإسلامي والعربي، إلا أنني وجدت هذا الكتاب مفيدا لفهم السياق السياسي والتسلسل التاريخي للأحداث والحرب الأهلية التي أدت لسقوط نظام الأسد. ولا يزال المستقبل لا يبعث على كثير من التفاؤل.

Title: Assad: The Triumph of Tyranny
Author: Con Coughlin
Pages: 288
Published: June 2024
Publisher: Picador

[Aurelia Behaeghel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprisingly clear, even in the post-Arab Spring period of Syria. The book, though logically not mentioning why Assad has been defeated, does give a greater understanding as to why he ultimately did get defeated.

[Brian]

Key takeaways from the book:

1. The author strongly favored Western intervention in Syria as a reasonable mechanism to deal with Assad. He lays a great deal of blame on Obama for not being decisive with Assad’s removal after the claims of chemical weapons being used. But he spends less time reflecting on the chaos that accompanied Gaddhafi’s deposition (Saleh, Mubarak and Ben Ali were different cases with popular uprisings, and not foreign intervention, being the reason for their stepping down).

2. I did not realize how ineffective and powerless Bashar was by the second year of the civil war. The author claims that Qasseim Suleimani, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard (Quds Force specifically), Hezbollah, and later, Putin, were running the show. Bashar was only appraised of the major decisions after they’d been taken.

3. I had forgotten how brutal the Islamic State was. Those guys were not messing around.

4. Bashar suffered from a deep sense of self-doubt and paralysis because of his father and elder brother. Why would he choose to stay in power for so long? Why was everyone so taken by him and Asma, and their western sensibilities (Rose in the Desert?) while ignoring the increasing humanitarian crisis? How can the media do a better joy of showing the fullness of foreign leaders and not be distracted by shiny, PR stunts?

[David Inwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book covering recent history in Syria up to 2023, when it was published. Unfortunately, it will probably be forgotten because it is completely outdated now. The book does not cover the recent toppling of the Assad government, and it fails to accurately predict that it would ever happen at all. He never mentions the guy who would eventually become President of the country. The author over-estimated Russia's ability and willingness to protect Assad. So he incorrectly concluded that Assad had triumphed when he was actually on the brink of total humiliation.
Despite this flaw, I enjoyed all other aspects of the book and I learned a lot from it.

[Samer Kallas · Rating 3 out of 5]

a mere record of the daily events we experienced, heard, or learned about regarding the Syrian 21st century tragedy, from common people's words of mouth during the past 25 years, collected here in a concise book as a film reel streaming in front of the reader's eyes.
It's a media commentator's text rather than a historical or political analysis, not even a biographical work.

[Ian Parke · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and readable insight into the Assad regime. Well written and easy to read. There are several surprises about Assad that I was unaware of. He is the typical guy next door, mild mannered, helpful, lovely man who then turns out to be a mass murderer. As for his wife. Well, read the book.

[Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had me until it moved away from centering Assad in the back half, and failed to describe how he transitioned from ignorance of the Arab Spring to using chemical weapons. The wonderful specifics of the first half were lost in what should have been the clearest-eyed sections of the book. Needs a new edition with a final chapter of his recent ouster. What a horrible stain on history he is.

[Özgür · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books on how the civil war in Syria started and how Assad survived it.

If you are not an expert on the topic and want to have a basic understanding, I can recommend it a good choice.

[Gary Holtzman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid, engaging biography that's a great guide for a non-expert like who doesn't know all the ins and outs of Syria's complicated, tragic, and globally important civil war. A very revealing portrait of a very bad man that everyone interested in the modern Middle East should read.

[nia · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was a slow and tedious read and with everything that's happened my copy is out of date - but it is insightful. the only comment I have is that it leans too much into context at the expense of other details - like the rise of non state groups.

[Pablo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buena introducción al tema Siria, con mucha data y de rápida lectura.

[Dario · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid primer on a leader most everyone has heard of but doesn’t necessarily know their history.

[Tom Barmaryam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very unbiased straightforward account.

[Mads Floyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great, but recently outdated

[Rhianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although there is much more to the story as of late, this book is a good primer for anyone unfamiliar with the war in Syria, its causes and subsequent effects.

[Besastian · Rating 3 out of 5]

not as good as „Assad or we burn the country“