Review (PDF)

Syria: The Fall Of The House Of Assad; New Updated Edition

In this timely book, David Lesch—one of the only Westerners well acquainted with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad—sheds new light on the ophthalmologist-turned-tyrant and how his regime has failed his country. For this updated edition, Lesch has added an epilogue that discusses the formation of the Syrian Coalition; the use of chemical weapons; whether or not outside nations should intervene; Al-Qaeda and Jihadist groups in Syria; the lessons of Iraq; the Geneva Communique plan for the country’s future; and the ongoing human cost of the Syrian conflict.

Paperback: 320 pages

Publisher: Yale University Press; New Upd edition (August 22, 2013)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0300197225

ISBN-13: 978-0300197228

Product Dimensions: 5 x 1 x 7.8 inches

Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)

Best Sellers Rank: #951,380 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #150 in Books > History > Middle East > Syria #374 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > Ideologies & Doctrines > Fascism #1860 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > International & World Politics > Middle Eastern

interesting observation of the beginning of Syria's civil war in the wake of the Arab Spring. Lesch does his job contemplating the evolution of Bashir, his search for "reform," and the frustrations of Syria's masses meeting the old regime and the promise of 2011. He notes that Bashir al-Assad's "reform process" (ie, introduction of pro-Western capital investment) led to increasing inequality and corruption, yet conveniently blames this on "crony capitalism" rather than the market mechanism itself. I can't see where cronyism plays any greater role in Syria than in "really existing capitalism" in the US, Europe, or elsewhere. The reforms themselves led to destabilization; while those who egged the demonstrations on, flush with the victory of global color-coded revolutions and the then-apparent successes of Tunisia and Libya, were drooling for Bashir's fall like some rotten fruit. The Syrian opposition was unrealistically hopeful that the West would come to its rescue in assisted regime-change intervention. Given Obama's early opposition to the fiasco that is now Iraq, this would not happen.Professor Lesch is an experienced policy analyst funded by several European institutes and was prophetic in noting the likelihood of civil war if things got out of hand with powerful Islamist forces waiting in the wings to exploit it. Yet he seems unable to connect his own dots at certain points, such as the contradictory nature of market reform noted above. He compares Bashir's failure to Gorbachev's "success," yet Gorbachev did *not* succeed in reforming the USSR but leading to its transition to something quite different. This was and remains the stated the Western policy goal in Syria, as enunciated by the ever-blunt Hillary Clinton in 2011.

I felt like I needed to educate myself on Syria due to the awful and ever complicating events that have happened there in the last few years. This book provides that, but admittedly, is already outdated and out-passed by the deluge of recent developments.It provides a view of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad. And the author acknowledges that the sub-title of his book (“The Fall of the House of Assad”) is misleading, premature... There are many reasons why Bashar al-Assad has still retained power – or at this stage some regional power.When he took over after the death of his father in the year 2000; he was expected to ease up and make Syria less of a dictatorship (make it less of a police state, modernize via education...). It was all a facade; it was all talk. Since the Arab Spring “hit” Syria Bashar al–Assad has become more vicious and ruthless in suppressing any and all opposition.Now that ISIS has grabbed the attention of the world’s headlines it may only serve to reinforce Bashar al-Assad’s hold on power and confirm the constant flow from his government of dire warnings of conspiracies, myths to uproot Syria as a country. Since its formation, and his father’s assumption to power in the 1960’s there has been a perpetual tide of warnings from the Syrian power base of threats from the U.S., from Israel, from terrorists - to usurp the Syrian nation. This also served to perpetuate an unrelenting police state – there has been an “emergency law” in place for decades.The author gives us a good overview of the geo-politics in the region – who is for Bashar al-Assad and who is against. Initially Turkey was against but is now toning down its rhetoric. Israel was on the fence; it knew its enemy well, but leery of who/what was going to be the replacement.

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