Syria: A History of the Last Hundred Years

by John McHugo

“A fluent introduction to Syria’s recent past, this book provides the backstory to the country’s collapse into brutal civil conflict” (Andrew Arsan, author of A Country in Fragments).
 
The fall of Syria into civil war over the past two years has spawned a regional crisis with reverberations growing louder in each passing month. In this timely account, John McHugo seeks to contextualize the headlines, providing broad historical perspective and a richly layered analysis of a country few in the United States know or understand.
 
McHugo charts the history of Syria from World War I to the tumultuous present, examining the country’s thwarted attempts at independence, the French policies that sowed the seeds of internal strife, and the fragility of its foundations as a nation. He then turns to more recent religious and sectarian tensions that have divided Syria, the pressures of the Cold War and the Arab-Israeli conflict, and two generations of rule by the Assads.
 
The result is a fresh and rigorous narrative that explains both the creation and unraveling of the current regime and the roots of the broader Middle East conflict. As the Syrian civil war threatens to draw the US military once again into the Middle East, here is a rare and authoritative guide to a complex nation that demands our attention.
 
“Scholarly but accessible and of much interest to those with an eye on geopolitical matters.” ―Kirkus Reviews
 
“Useful as a concise overview of independent Syria’s most important movements and personalities, McHugo’s book gives readers the basic background necessary to understand the country.” ―Publishers Weekly

Genres: History, Middle East, Nonfiction, Politics, Syrian Civil War, Contemporary, War

320 pages, Hardcover

First published June 30, 2014

About the author

After studying Arabic and Islamic studies at Oxford University and the American University in Cairo in the early 1970s, John McHugo’s career as an international lawyer took him to a number of Arab countries including Egypt, Oman and Bahrain over a period of more than a quarter of a century. He is an honorary Senior Fellow at the Centre for Syrian Studies at St. Andrews, and a board member of the Council for Arab-British Understanding and the British Egyptian Society. He has also written on legal aspects of the Arab-Israeli dispute. His publications include A Concise History of Sunnis and Shi‘is, A Concise History of the Arabs and Syria: A Recent History.

Reviews

[Tammam Aloudat · Rating 4 out of 5]

John McHugo is certainly knowledgeable about Syria and its history, and he is certainly on the right side of history when it comes to describing the rule of the Assads, tyrannical and dictatorial, and the Syrian revolution that started asking for freedom and dignity.

As a Syrian , I am torn between finding the book very good in the way it narrates a hundred years of Syria's complexity in a fairly compact volume and between wanting more depth in analysis. There was little I didn't know but little also that I didn't agree with.

I suppose this is normal though. This book is not meant to be a detailed history but one that introduces Western audience to some depth about a country they see only one dimension of on the news media every day. It tells a story where by the brutal civil war didn't just spring out of vacuum but was the result of many mistakes; the Ottoman occupation, the deception of the British and French and later on their abuse of their mandate in the Levant, the occupation of Palestine and creation of Israel in the heart of Greater Syria, the proxy conflicts of the Cold War era, and finally decades of ruthless dictators governing people with blood and fear. All happened in plain sight of Western Democracies who chose and continue to choose to play the cards that serve their narrow interest than the principles they claim to hold or the people who are killed and starved.

I fear that the chapters of this book that are being written now on the ground will be even more harrowing than those I just finished reading in McHugo's excellent history. Only time will tell.

[Samer Kallas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Objective, Realistic, Unbiased, and well written. It is one of the best books i red on the Modern History of Syria

[Mimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good book for my research essay... Provided lots of historical background instead of delving into the civil war without explaining the different things that led to the war... thx John

[Joanna Mounce · Rating 4 out of 5]

With all of the controversy over refugees and our place in the Syrian civil war, I decided it would be good to actually read a bit about Syria. I have always enjoyed reading books about people from the Middle East, but I have never actually read a non-fiction book about the history of the region.

Syria and the surrounding region was a part of the Ottoman Empire from 1516 until its dissolution after WWI. Up until then, the Arab people in that region were all one people. France and England divided the region in the aftermath of the war and placed arbitrary borders to separate Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, and Iraq. This caused divisions of both families and ancient trading partnerships, and these divisions were obviously very unpopular among the Arabs who actually lived in the region. In order to receive some compensation for their losses in WWI, France was made the imperial power of Syria and Lebanon, while England was the imperial power in Jordan, Palestine, and Iraq. Lebanon was made a country specifically to protect the Maronite Christians who lived there, and these Christians were generally in favor of French colonialism. Syria is a religiously diverse country, with a Sunni majority and substantial Shiite, Christian, Alawi, and Druze minorities. The French played these groups against each other in order to maintain their rule. During the imperial period, Arab nationalism began to gain prominence. Many religious minorities, including Christians, took part in this movement.

The French left Syria after WWII following much strife in the region. Israel was made a state in 1948, and Palestinian refugees flooded the borders of Syria. During this time Arab nationalism was high, and it was unclear whether Syria would remain its own country or whether the Arab world would unite and disregard the arbitrary borders set up by the imperial powers. Therefore, the creation of Israel was a great insult to the whole Arab world and destabilized the whole region by creating a huge refugee population. From then on it was not politically tenable for any Syrian leader to be seen as too cozy with America. Israel showed its total military dominance in the 6 days war in 1967, where it also took a region of Syria called the Golan Heights. This region is still under Israeli control, and Syria still claims that it should be returned.

There were several military coups from the end of WWII until Hafez al-Assad took power in 1970. Hafez al-Assad’s reign was brutal and corrupt, but it also provided stability to the country and improved the lives of many of Syrians. He was a member of a religious minority, the Alawis, and strategically placed other Alawis in high positions. However, he tended to use Islam as a political tool while insisting on a secular state. This caused resentment from the Sunni majority, and mosques were the main centers of political dissent.

The current president, Basher al-Assad, is Hafez’s son. His older brother was first in line to take over for his father, but he was killed in a car accident. Basher al-Assad was studying in London to become an eye doctor. His wife was born in London, but her parents are Syrian. When the Arab spring demonstrations began and regimes across the Middle East were thrown into turmoil, it seemed as though Syria would not join suit. However, an incident where two children were tortured after writing childish, anti-establishment graffiti sparked a wave of protests that spread throughout Syria and resulted in the current Civil War.

There were several main points I learned that made me really glad I read this book. Firstly, I knew before that Syria used to be 90% Christian, but I never really thought about what it means that it is still 20% Christian. That is, Christians and other religious minorities were able to survive for millennia in some form, although I am sure they have been very persecuted. Still, the people in Syria are more religiously diverse than the peoples of Europe were historically. Secondly, I was obsessively against the U.S. providing arms to the rebel fighters when the war broke out, even before ISIS was a big concern. I now understand better why we did it. There actually were groups that were fighting for greater freedom in a more secular way, it wasn’t just like we were giving arms to terrorists. Obviously, it did not work in retrospect, but I no longer blame the U.S. the way I did before. Finally, I never understood the depths of the problems that Israel created in the Arab Peninsula. I’m sure I still don’t, but I do understand them better now. All in all, I'd recommend this book to anyone who is interested in a more in-depth look at Syrian history.

[Kawing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basically this is the concise modern history of Syria everyone should read especially if they are interested in the recent conflict happening in Syria.

[Καιρὸς · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's an alright book but Cycle of Fear: Syria's Alawites in War and Peace by Leon Goldsmith and The Ba'th and the Creation of Modern Syria by David Roberts are better book about the same subject.

[Chad Kohalyk · Rating 2 out of 5]

A competent overview of the major stages in Syrian history since the Great War. My greatest takeaway was the complex relationship with bordering nations. Syrian history is less about what Syria has done, than what was done to Syria. This explains why there seems to be so little scholarship on Syria itself. The bibliography in this book is a little thin. It is certainly a regional story.

The main criticism I have about this book is its organization. McHugo simply lays out one event after another. Sure, this transmits lots of information, but not a lot of insight. I would have liked to see more analysis like his last (short) chapter.

This serves as a nice 100 level into Syrian history. Now to turn to more books about specific people and relationships.

[Calzean · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a reasonably easy book to read on a very complex topic. Taking the reader to early 2014 it paints a bleak picture to what the Assad regime is doing to hold on power, the games being played by Syria's neighbours, the sadness in Syria being used as a pawn in a game between Russia and the USA and the difficulties Syria has faced since it's artificial creation.
It's a very balanced book which criticises all parties but still with great empathy for the Syrian people.

[Azzam Mustafa · Rating 4 out of 5]

in need to a second reading!

[Rebekah Tregonning · Rating 4 out of 5]

so well written- engaging but also factual which is lovely to see!

[Lily Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating account of how Syria got to where is was in 2011, great to understand regional politics and how the dictatorship began

[Charlotte Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book as I wanted to learn more about Syria because with the country being in the news all the time as it is fighting a battle with terrorists and also for personal reasons. I think it is important to learn more about Syria.

Overall this is a very good read indeed. The author is excellent in covering the period from 1900 with the French Mandate and up to when Hafez Bashar Al Assad became President. It was a fascinating insight and I was very much saddened and dare I say ashamed that the West has interfered with the development of Syria and even taking away the Golan Heights which quite rightly belong to Syria and not Israel. I say this because Israel was created by the West. And in creating Israel it messed up the surrounding countries as a result.

However Chapters 6 and 7 were disappointing as it became more of an insight into the author's feelings about the current situation in Syria. One cannot try and impose a historical view of current events. I was also particularly annoyed with the bias by the author in looking at the Presidency of Bashar Al Assad. He was clearly against the Assad Presidencies of both Hafez and Bashar Al Assad. Again a mistake. The author should have stepped back and not make comments on a rapidly changing situation in Syria. Maybe in 20 years time when hopefully the war will be over and the dust settles one can examine events happening in Syria today from a genuine historical context and without personal bias or feeling about what is happening.

That being said it was an enjoyable read and I am now wanting to learn more about Syria and it's culture. Syria is a very old civilisation. The land, particularly Damascus had been occupied by humans as far back as the Roman times and even then dates back much further.

I hope that one day I can visit a historically rich and culturally diverse country. Especially Damascus. Even if it is just to visit Salidan's tomb. But I also want to visit the older parts of Damascus too. And the majestic mosque that is located in Damascus as well.

In conclusion an insightful introduction to Syrian history and I have learnt much from the book and gives me a better understanding of a country that I hope one day I can visit. Despite being let down in the last two chapters, It has left me wanting to read more!

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the 2017 updated version subtitled A Recent History. Like many others, I guess, I chose to read this book to help me understand the causes of the ongoing and horrendous Syrian Civil War. Many years ago I read a Readers Digest article in the Dentist's waiting room that described Bashar Al Assad as the bright new hope for stability and prosperity in Syria...how wrong that was!!
This is a 'Ronseal' book, it does what it says on the cover and it does so concisely but not without feeling and sympathy. McHugo has an affection for the country and its people. He is unstinting in his criticism of the French Mandate years and memorably (and randomly) in the postscript labels the British Brexit decision as an act of self-castration!! So he is not without opinions even though he sticks to the brief of sketching the events and leading characters who have shaped Syrian politics and national life from 1918 to almost the present day.
An excellent introduction to the forces at work that have plunged a nation into an abyss of chaos and violence.

[Mikkel Tolnaes · Rating 5 out of 5]

«Syria: A Recent History» is an excellent review of the historical context of Syria with additional analysis on the causal relationships between historical factors and the current demise of the country and the Middle East in general. With a rich history that spans several centuries it is an impressive feat to select the right level of detail, something the author, John McHugo, does very well. McHugo understands the need to present an accessible historical study while also providing sufficient historical context to understand the complex external relations of Syria and the deeply sectarian internal forces. The rest of this review contains some key takeaways that one may consider spoilers, but they are so important to understanding Syria that they can simply not be reiterated too often.

The book effectively begins at the end of the Ottoman empire with the establishment of Greater Syria, which spanned included today’s Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, parts of Turkey, and Palestine. After being under Ottoman rule for five centuries the region was teetering to govern itself, embodied in Faisal Hussein, but the French and British colonists wanted otherwise. The French and British, following the Sykes-Pecot agreement, created British and French mandates and carved the region according to self-interests, creating arbitrary borders and countries that would cause significant problems up to the present day. It is ironic that Greater Syria, at the time, made honourable and sustained attempts at being democratic, attempts that were thoroughly torpedoed by Western democracies. It is not surprising if this subsequently has fuelled a fair amount of scepticism towards Western democracies. The lack of trust in the Western powers would be reinforced by actions of those powers that were purely self-serving, and usually detrimental to Syria. An example is France’s decision to grant Turkey the ownership of the Syrian region of Alexandretta in the 1930’s in ordered to gain another ally in the face of the war that was looming in Europe.

Then, of course, one cannot omit to mention the most influential part of recent Syrian history, at least in the past 50 years, the rule of the Assad’s. The author does a remarkable job providing a nuanced understanding of both Hafez, and subsequently his son Bashar, reminding us of the fact that history is rarely black or white, good or bad. The unexpected heir to the state, after his brother’s sudden death, Bashar al-Assad, is presently closely associated with a brutal civil war that is brutally ripping Syria to shreds. Thus, it is very interesting to read about how Bashar attempted to reform Syria for the better, the impact on his rule by the conflict with Israel and the war in Iraq, and of course the complicated relationship with Lebanon and it’s Shi’i factions. This is not an attempt to garner neither support nor opposition of Bashar, it is simply a reminder to analyse and understand historical context before drawing conclusions.

Finally, the author ends the book with a splendid summary chapter, drawing all the strings together and highlighting the impact of the historical impact on the recent development of Syria. A brutal and tragic civil war that is most often referred to as Bashar’s government forces against rebels is in fact a highly complicated conflict in which a number of parties are involved. It is to a certain extent a proxy war between USA and Russia, and it is certainly an arena for the ongoing conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran plus its Shi’i allies. As far as the book itself is concerned, the only addition one could hope for is another afterword reflecting on the recent developments in the civil war, now that four years have passed since the book was written. Critics may claim that the book lacks a bit of analysis and depth, but to me, as an introduction to Syria’s history, it was perfect.

[Frank Peters · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was both a good and interesting book. I learned a considerable amount regarding the more recent (after WW2) history of the middle east, centred around Syria. Reading the book was a bit depressing as there were no good countries of characters. All were self-serving or worse. The operations of western countries were abysmal. I am inclined to write: “especially France”, but England and the USA were not much better, if at all. Then, in keeping with the examples provided, the new politicians and leaders in the middle east were just as bad. I found myself especially sad regarding the people in Lebanon, as they were the location for a long term proxy war.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid history of modern Syria since WW1. John McHugo breaks down the legacy of the French Mandate in Syria and the impact French rule had on ethnic and religious divisions in the country. While the historical information and chronological order are excellent I was hoping for more details on the oppression of Syrians under the Assad regime leading up to the revolution during the Arab Spring. Despite this shortcoming McHugo's work provides an excellent narrative of the history of modern Syria.

[Mahura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Einer der lehrreichen historischen Lektüre meines Landes. Dies hat mir gezeigt, wie notwendig es ist, die eigene Geschichte, die Geschichte des eigenen Landes oder des Herkunfts, zu erlernen. Die eigene Geschichte zu lernen ist meiner Meinung nach eine Verpflichtung gegenüber allen Menschen, lebende und nicht lebende.

[James Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although a lifetime seems to have passed where the book leaves off in 2014, Hugo does a great job of working through a century of history.

It threads the needle of not being too academic and capturing the complexity.

The influence of communism in the region would have been interesting to learn more given how it feels so opposite of what the region is today.

[Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Syria, historically apart of Sham, has long been in turmoil since the fall of Ottoman empire. Western influence in the region in the past centuries had only exasperated the turbulence. After a temporary few decades os stability, Syria today is once again facing numerous challenges.

[Carl]

Too complex and tedious to enjoy.

[Andrew Crofts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very thorough explanation

This is a very thorough, and readable, background to the current Syrian conflict. Would be good to have an update.

[Ieva · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well written book, accessible for the people who are new to reading history books.

[Will Fitzpatrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s like a giant awesome Wikipedia article. Well written and easy to follow. Post WW1 Middle Eastern history is fascinating.

[Abdulla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great introductory history of Syria. The book is short, readable, and nuanced. Not super comprehensive but a great jumping off point for those interested in reading further.

[Aya · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent account of the history of Syria since the latest days of the Ottoman Empire till the recent events which led to the recent 'war'. It is an objective honest book that shows the deep knowledge of the author of the Middle East region. The links he makes to the various elements and events, and his understanding of how the interference of external powers deeply affected the societies in Syria are great. The book describes Syria under the French rule, the policies of the French during colonialism which enhanced divisions within the societies, and then Syria after independence, the different coups, Syria under the rule of Hafez Al Asad and then his son Bashar Al Asad. He describes the composition of the Syrian population, the different ethnicities and religions, the artificial borders drawn by Britain and France in the Middle East which were catastrophic in someway, the relationship between Syria and other neighbouring countries like Iraq, Jordan, Palestine and Lebanon. Also, the wars in which Syria was engaged in against the newly established Zionist state. I recommend everyone interested in Syria to read this book to get an objective analysis and I recommend the author to follow this book with another one trying to understand the current war, the different interests of states, the different militia groups, etc.

[Derek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice primer to contemporary Syrian history. Unfortunately the section on Salah Jadid's rule is truncated and lacks any detail, which is a shame. Also quite weak on Syrian civil war analysis post-2011.

[Omar Al-Zaman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looks like this book needs an update!

As the title suggests, this is a history of Syria from the fall of the Ottomans to 2014, the date of publication. When I get a chance I'll do a longer review inshallah, but my main takeaway is that the political history of Syria since WW1 has been an unmitigated disaster. This is in large part due to constant foreign meddling in Syrian affairs, first by the French, then by the Americans and Soviets, and today by Turkey, America, Israel, Russia, ISIS, Hezbollah, and other parties. At the time of publication, the Syrian Civil War was 3 years old and ISIS had just recently appeared. Much has happened in the next 10 years but the conflict has yet to be resolved. This is an excellent book and well worth a read to understand the context behind the truly tragic situation in Syria today.

[H KiLas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Syria: A History of the Last Hundred Years offers a clear and well-structured overview of Syria’s modern history. While certain events and figures could have benefited from more detail, and some episodes were entirely overlooked, the book still manages to cover a century of complex developments in a relatively short space. I particularly liked the discussion of Syria’s political economy under the Baath, though I wished it had been longer and more in-depth. The coverage of the Syrian civil war was thorough considering the book’s brevity. Overall, it is a well-balanced and neutral introduction to Syria’s turbulent past.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great compact history of Syria and the complex political/socio-economic elements that have effected the country's modern history.
I would say that the real value of this book is in the history of the post-WWI & French mandate period which is where the stage was set for ongoing problems locally through international interferance.
Well realised as a concise guide to a fairly broad historical period.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

McHugo offers a readable and balanced account of Syria's history, from its partition by the British and French mandates after WWI, the formation of a national party, detachment from colonial powers, conflict with Israel, multiple coupe's, Ba'thification, the rise of the Assads, and decline into all out civil war. Syria is a great place to start for those interested in Middle-East studies. Highly recommend this book.