Alawis of Syria

Michael Kerr is Professor of Conflict Studies and Director of the Middle East and Mediterranean Studies programme, at King's College London. Craig Larkin is Lecturer in Comparative Politics of the Middle East, King's College London.

• Introduction: For 'God, Syria, Bashar and Nothing Else'? -- Michael KerrPART IALAWIS: SECRECY AND SURVIVAL1. The Genesis of Syria's Alawi Minority -- Aslam Farouk-Alli2. The Alawis in the Ottoman Period -- Stefan H Winter3. Community, Sect, Nation: Colonial and Social ScientificDiscourses on the Alawis in Syria during the Mandate andEarly Independence Periods -- Max WeissPART IIALAWIS AND THE SYRIAN STATE4. 'Go to Damascus, my son': Alawi Demographic Shifts underBa'ath Party Rule -- Fabrice Balanche5. Syrian Alawis and the Ba'ath Party -- Raymond Hinnebusch6. The Syrian Muslim Brotherhood's Alawi Conundrum -- Raphael LefevrePART IIIALAWI COMMUNITIES, IDENTITIES AND POWER7. Alawi Diversity and Solidarity: From the Coast to the Interior -- Leon T. Goldsmith8. Patronage and Clientelism in Bashar's Social Market Economy -- Alan George9. The Alawis of Tripoli: Identity, Violence and Urban Geopolitics -- Craig Larkin and Olivia MidhaPART IVALAWIS IN CONFLICT AND CONTESTATION10. Chasing Ghosts: The Shabiha Phenomenon -- Aron Lund11. Alawis in the Syrian Opposition -- Carsten Wieland12. Repression is not 'a Stupid Thing': Regime Responses to the Syrian Uprising and Insurgency -- Reinoud Leenders

An outstanding collection of essays by leading scholars of contemporary Syria. Without doubt this book will remain a core text for an understanding of the sect which remains at the heart of the Baathist regime.