Religion and State in Syria: The Sunni Ulama from Coup to Revolution

by Thomas Pierret

Overview

While Syria has been dominated since the 1960s by a determinedly secular regime, the 2011 uprising has raised many questions about the role of Islam in the country's politics. This book demonstrates that with the eradication of the Muslim Brothers after the failed insurrection of 1982, Sunni men of religion became the only voice of the Islamic trend in the country. Through educational programs, charitable foundations and their deft handling of tribal and merchant networks, they took advantage of popular disaffection with secular ideologies to increase their influence over society. In recent years, with the Islamic resurgence, the Alawi-dominated Ba'thist regime was compelled to bring the clergy into the political fold. This relationship was exposed in 2011 by the division of the Sunni clergy between regime supporters, bystanders and opponents. This book affords a new perspective on Syrian society as it stands at the crossroads of political and social fragmentation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781139610766
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	03/25/2013
Series:	Cambridge Middle East Studies , #41
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Thomas Pierret is a Lecturer in Contemporary Islam at the University of Edinburgh. He has edited two volumes on contemporary Islam and published numerous book sections and entries for the Encyclopedia of Islam.

Table of Contents

1. The era of the 'founding sheikhs' (1920–79); 2. Landscapes after the battle (1979–2007); 3. (Re)defining orthodoxy against reformist trends; 4. The turban and the chequebook: political economy of the Syrian religious elite; 5. Ulama and Islamists in the political field; 6. Reforms and revolution; 7. Conclusion.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Empirically rich and with penetrating analysis, Pierret's book provides an alternative history of modern Syrian politics, quite different from those focusing on the Ba'th regime. It challenges simplistic views about Syrian Islam and its relation to the state, showing the great complexity both of the Islamic sphere in the country and of the relations by which both the Ba'th regime and the variegated ulama and Islamists have sought to use or oppose the other." - Raymond Hinnebusch, Centre for Syrian Studies, University of St. Andrews

“Thomas Pierret's pathbreaking study takes us into the networks and mindset of Syria' sunni religious leaders, a unique analysis of the fabric of the Syrian upheaval, that holds many keys for the reading of the future.” - Professor Gilles Kepel, Sciences Po Paris

Editorial Reviews

"Empirically rich and with penetrating analysis, Pierret's book provides an alternative history of modern Syrian politics, quite different from those focusing on the Ba'th regime. It challenges simplistic views about Syrian Islam and its relation to the state, showing the great complexity both of the Islamic sphere in the country and of the relations by which both the Ba'th regime and the variegated ulama and Islamists have sought to use or oppose the other."
Raymond Hinnebusch, Centre for Syrian Studies, University of St Andrews

"Thomas Pierret's pathbreaking study takes us into the networks and mindset of Syria' sunni religious leaders, a unique analysis of the fabric of the Syrian upheaval, that holds many keys for the reading of the future."
Gilles Kepel, Sciences Po Paris

"This recent study of Thomas Pierret is a welcome addition to the existing literature on the subject, and is a comprehensive study of Syria’s little known religious scene … Pierrett’s book is a thought provoking, complex and engaging work. It is well written and includes useful explanations that help the reader navigate through a complex and very condensed history. The author’s arguments are also enriched by an impressive list of references."
Abderrahman Zouhir, Middle East Media and Book Reviews

"This remarkably informative and timely book analyzes the struggle of the high hereditary ulama (clergy) in Syria … Recommended. Graduate and research collections."
R. W. Olson, Choice

"… the author offers … a solid analysis of the networks, the ideas, and the activities of the Sunni clerics in modern Syria. I highly recommend the book to students and scholars of political science and sociology of religion, especially those interested in modern Islam."
Abdessamad Belhaj, Journal of Church and State

'Throws new light on the Sunni establishment in Syria.' The Times Literary Supplement

'… highlights the regime’s overarching concern with security versus institution building.' Elie Chalala, Al Jadid: A Review and Record of Arab Culture and Arts

'… Thomas Pierret has done the world a service with Religion and State in Syria: The Sunni Ulama from Coup to Revolution. The book portrays a holistic analysis of condensed historical events from 1920 to 2012 … The book will be of interest to both academics and a more general readership.' Ahmed Sajjad, Middle East Policy

From the Publisher