2008/04/17 by D. K. Fieldhouse · 1 citation
Social Sciences · Arts and Humanities · #Middle East Politics and Society #North African History and Literature #African history and culture studies
paper · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199540839.003.0007
openalex publication_date 2008/04/17 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21
Abstract This chapter examines two major questions central to any study of the French mandate in Syria (and also of Lebanon) between 1918 and 1946. First, why the French were so determined to get political control over Syria and why they never voluntarily conceded independence to it. Second, why Syria proved to be a relatively docile French dependency for so long, despite the fact that it was the centre of Arab nationalism before 1914 and was the first Arab territory to declare itself an independent state between 1918 and 1920. The answer to the first question lies in the labyrinthine structure of French domestic politics and interest groups before and after 1918, while the answer to the second question lies in the complexities of the Syrian social structure, which alone made it possible for the French to make some form of compromise with the social elite of notables, who in turn provided sufficient collaboration to make the alien regime viable.