by Brock Dahl
In his new book on Syria, Christian Sahner explores the rise of Islam, the place of Christianity, the emergence of sectarian politics, the autocratic state, and the Lebanese paradigm.
In Among the Ruins: Syria Past and Present, Christian C. Sahner weaves lean, perfectly recounted history with equally succinct memoir-styled observations on modern Syria. Sahner is a Middle East historian who attended Princeton University, was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford, and is now completing his doctorate at Princeton. More importantly, he has spent years in Syria and Lebanon, studying, living, and recording his impressions and experiences. His narrative focuses on five key themes: the rise of Islam, the place of Christianity, the emergence of sectarian politics, the autocratic state, and the Lebanese paradigm.
His eloquent observations will be of interest to laymen and history buffs wishing to understand the complex historical factors contributing to Syria’s instability. Students seeking a jumping-off point for pursuing further studies in the region will also find the book raises critical questions crying out for further research. Finally, Western policymakers, baffled by the divergent ideological strands animating regional events, can start here to glimpse the intellectual roots of such incommensurability.
Sahner’s writing engages all the reader’s senses without wasting a word. His precision keeps the story moving at breakneck speed, leaving the reader with essential insights while eliding potentially distracting factual minutiae. The combination is sheer brilliance. The book is especially impressive given the magnitude of Sahner’s intellectual task and the grace with which he accomplishes it.
The Rise of Islam ...
The Christians of Syria ...
The Emergence of Sectarian Politics ...
The Autocratic State ...
The Lebanese Lens ...
The Emergence of Sectarian Politics ...
The Autocratic State ...
The Lebanese Lens ...
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