How the West Stole Democracy from the Arabs: The Syrian Congress of 1920 and the Destruction of its Historic Liberal-Islamic Alliance Paperback – September 21, 2021

This was a superbly written and researched book. Is ell written and flows smoothly too. Highly recommended if you want to understand the history of that part of the world.

Elizabeth Thompson has written a profoundly interesting, readable and valuable contribution to Middle Eastern scholarship. In this volume she has given all the leading figures a three dimensional reality, and full personalities. Her text narrates how the Western allies, victors of World War I, proceeded to discard Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points, and reserve the Middle Eastern lands of Iraq, and, chiefly here, Syria and Lebanon, for a continuation of Great Power imperialism under the fig-leaf guise of Mandates. These mandates would, on paper, prepare these countries and peoples for independence and full sovereignty, but, in reality, would only be a shell for continued European colonial rule. Two individuals stand head and shoulders above the rest in Thompson's narrative: First was Prince Faisal ibn Hussein, the presumptive parliamentary king of an independent, parliamentary monarchic Syria, and quite hopeful of these political destinies for his country and his people-yet cheated of his hopes by double-dealing European diplomats at Versailles, and then by high commissioners and governors, until he was finally booted out of Syria by the French after they crushed Syrian military forces in 1925, and then offered the booby prize of being offered, and then named the puppet king in a still-British-dominated Iraq. And one might mention Rashid Rida, the journalist, "Modern Islamist" and nationalist activist, who, unlike Faisal, saw through the wiles of the French and the British at Versailles in 1919, and rose to the helm of leadership of nationalist forces striving desperately in the 1920s for Syrian national unity and independence as based on, again, the Fourteen Points. Thompson's narrative is superbly readable, and, along with other writings by Eugene Rogen and James Gelvin, and several other historians of the region, her book offers the general reader and academic scholarship a new wisdom into the chaos, high promise and ultimate betrayals in the post-WWI Middle East. She also offers a convincing diagnosis of the reasons for the contemporary upheaval and violence in Syria since 2011, though without harping (too much) on the guilt of the West in helping to perpetuate entrenched Syrian (et al) authoritarianism, and equally entrenched ethno-religious divisiveness that allow not only the Asad regime to rule bloodily indefinitely in Damascus, but a militant, insurrectionary Islamic radicalism to develop under the authority of Hasan al banna, Sayyid Qutb and the Muslim Brotherhood. Thompson has also, valuably, included important documentation in her appendices, namely members of the Syrian Congress in 1920, the Syrian declaration of Independence (3/1920), and the Syrian Constitution (7/1920). My only criticism of the book is the author's prolonged citation of footnotes at the rear of the volume, which might have been shortened considerably. Yet, all in all, a superlative book for a better understanding of the Middle East and the modern travails of the Arab people of Syria. Well worth a purchase.

Whilst I do not agree with with the premise, it is a valid argument.

Actually a 4.8. There was a bit of discoloration and dumpling on the front of the dustjacket, but overall great condition.

Finally! You get to hear what the arabs went through, what were they told, and how they were forced into mandates. History is written by the victor, so the Arab view was previously lost to history. This follows King Faisal's point of view in detail. Very interesting read. Glad these details were not erased with history.Basically a summary on how the French and English conspired behind the Arabs and American's backs to create and control the mandates (1920's).Another book "A line in the sand" discusses better how the British and French later stabbed each other in the back to remove the mandates (1940's) to finish the story.Thank you Ms Thompson for giving the Arabs a voice.

Just a simple explanation to the hideous nature of French and British colonialist policy that destroyed the natural and proper evolution of the middle eastern society that we still the pay the price for till today.

I hadn't been aware of what happened to Syria after WWI and when it was re-colonized by France instead of the Ottoman Empire. King Faisal who had helped the allies right against the Germans and Turks. They expected independence, but instead, the powers of Britain and France were intent on taking over the areas as part of their Empires. At one time, a King named Fisal, helped draft a constitution with fellow countryman that protected the rights of people with different religions, suffrage for women and a Constitutional Monarchy. But France and Britain planned to break up the area and use resources such as oil. The American President Woodrow Wilson supported their plan for independence but was foiled by a Republican Congress which opposed his idea of a League of Nations and later a massive stroke which killed him. President Warren G. Harding, supported Britain and France's colonial plans. Poor Syria and the Arabian peninsula were broken into religious factions and eventually weak nations. The exploitation of resources and lands continue to this day and have caused numerous conflicts and wars. A tragic story that I was unaware of. I greatly appreciate reading 📚this work. Outstanding!

This book is an excellant unbiased true history of how England and France destroyed the opportunity of the Arab people to have a real democratic society in the Middle East.If you don't know the history of this area please read this book. It will clearly show how the present day wars and disastrous fighting that we see today could have been avoided. Nevertheless, knowing this history will give the reader an opportunity to see the wider scope of todays troubles. I listened to the audio streaming copy from my public library.