From Library Journal
Pipes, director of the Foreign Policy Research Institute, sets out the historical background of the creation of the modern state of Syria and of its political institutions, all of which serve as the foundation to the development of what the author calls Pan-Syrian nationalism--the dream of creating a "Greater Syria" out of today's states of Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan, plus a portion of Turkey. Some may be critical of Pipes as he presents the history of Syria, particularly in his bias as Western-oriented historian. Nevertheless, his contribution here can not be exaggerated, and the coverage given this ideology will be inserted into the analysis of Syrian politics for years to come. This is best read with Patrick Seale's Asad of Syria: The Struggle for the Middle East ( LJ 4/1/89) and Moshe Ma'oz's Asad, The Sphinx of Damascus ( LJ 9/15/89).
- Sanford R. Silverburg, Catawba Coll., Salisbury, Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
"A superior book."--Foreign Affairs
"His contribution here cannot be exaggerated, and the coverage given this ideology will be inserted into the analysis of Syrian politics for years to come."--Library Journal