Civil War in Syria
Mobilization and Competing Social Orders

In 2011, hundreds of thousands of Syrians marched peacefully to demand democratic reforms. Within months, repression forced them to take arms and set up their own institutions. Two years later, the inclusive nature of the opposition had collapsed, and the PKK and radical jihadist groups rose to prominence. In just a few years, Syria turned into a full-scale civil war involving major regional and world powers. How has the war affected Syrian society? How does the fragmentation of Syria transform social and sectarian hierarchies? How does the war economy work in a country divided between the regime, the insurgency, the PKK and the Islamic State? Written by authors who have previously worked on the Iraqi, Afghan, Kurd, Libyan and Congolese armed conflicts, it includes extensive interviews and direct observations. A unique book, which combines rare field experience of the Syrian conflict with new theoretical insights on the dynamics of civil wars.

Reviews & endorsements

'Civil War in Syria is one of the very few fieldwork-based studies produced by Western academics on the topic. It provides unique insight into the Syrian war, including fascinating analyses of early revolutionary institutions that were subsequently destroyed by the combined efforts of loyalist forces and Jihadi groups. A genuinely scholarly endeavour, it also presents provocative theoretical arguments that will considerably enrich the growing field of comparative research on civil wars.' Thomas Pierret, University of Edinburgh

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Product details

• Date Published: February 2018
• format: Paperback
• isbn: 9781108430906
• length: 336 pages

• dimensions: 228 x 151 x 17 mm
• weight: 0.5kg
• contains: 7 maps
• availability: Available