State and Society in Syria and Lebanon

Abstract

The aim of this book, as pointed out in the introduction, is toexplore the unfolding and evolving of "state institutions, socioeconomicstructures, cultural policies and ideological currents" from the end ofthe Ottoman Empire until the present in Syria and Lebanon. Althoughlaudable, the book falls short of this lofty aim, for the arguments presentedin several essays are not developed fully while others contain agreat deal of rhetoric. Nonetheless, some articles deserve the readers'close attention.The first article is by Abdul-Karim Rafeq, a prominent Syrian historian,who challenges from the outset the notion that Arab nationalismappeared in the nineteenth century due to the European impact. Ina highly nuanced argument, he traces the development of identityamong the Syrian ulama under Ottoman rule through their defence ofthe "rightful application of the Islamic Shari'ah [which they] werehighly critical of any breaches of it" (p. 2). Moreover, he adds thatthey sided with the peasantry against the unjust application of Ottomanland grants, which reduced the peasants to little more than serfs.His initial arguments are both well researched and highly documented.After a short discussion of the tolerance that existed between theSyrian Christians and the Muslim rulers, Rafeq turns his attention toAmir Faysal's attempt to establish an Arab government in postOttomanSyria ...