Inside Syria: The Backstory of Their Civil War and What the World Can Expect

Inside Syria describes the current situation going on from a historical perspective. Gives the situation that is going on from different points of view. Good book to read and understand the beginning and the continued civil war that is going on. The interesting portion to me is the interview with the citizen from this country who want democracy. Very good book

Reese Erlich’s book Inside Syria: The Backstory of Their Civil War and What the World Can Expect, gives us an analysis of several critical factors necessary to understanding Syria’s current day conflict to include: The history of Syria following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire to onset of their civil unrest in 2011, a thorough look at Syria’s long history of political instability, an overview of the ideologies which makeup the factions of their internal conflict, and the foreign influences involved within the Syrian Civil War which further complicate the internal and geopolitical situation. Erlich combines both historical data and his own interviews, often with those of opposing ideologies, to illustrate the complexity of the current situation. While the strengths of his book lie in his ability connect Syria’s past to its ongoing Civil War, there are instances where he veers away from conveying a non-biased point of view, and instead attempts to reinforce his own political ideology into the narrative. Nevertheless, we are presented with a well-organized chronology of the events leading up to the catalysts of the 2011 protests which sparked the complex conflict of opposing ideologies which we bear witness to today. Reese Erlich’s thesis is not clearly defined in the opening of his book, as the foreword is provided by social justice advocate and anarcho-syndicalist Noam Chomsky. Instead of a preliminary thesis to examine throughout his book, we are given an outline of how the 2011 social unrest led to the violent uprisings and Civil War which followed. However, we are provided with Erlich’s thesis in the final pages of his book. Erlich attributes the brutality, unpredictability, and complexity of the Syrian Civil war to the foreign intervention which overshadows the fighting taking place between the many ideologies and religious sects inside of Syria. Erlich (2014) states:The longer fighting continued, the more foreign powers interfered. Russia sent massive amounts of arms and provided diplomatic cover for Assad’s repression. Iran sent arms and military advisors, and it facilitated the entry into Syria of Hezbollah and Iraqi militias. The United States, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates, and Israel all backed the rebels. The CIA trained selected rebels in Jordan. Foreigners bolstered the ranks of al-Qaeda-affiliated and other extremist rebels, further complicating matters. (p. 235)Erlich concludes that despite the complexity of the situation, the Syrian Civil War will eventually come to an end, and the Syrians will rebuild their country and government (Erlich, 2014). The thesis provided in the closing chapter, however factual, is rooted in the uncertainty of what Syria’s political, economic, and religious makeup will look like, what the geopolitical consequences will ultimately be, and what internal struggles are likely to continue following the conclusion of its Civil War. His chronology of the Syria’s history alludes to, that despite hoping for the best possible outcome, which is currently unknown, this will likely not be the last conflict within Syria’s borders. Aside from just providing a chronology of the history, ideologies, and foreign influences within Syria, Erlich’s reporting gives us insight into each of these factors through his interviews with many outside sources. From his interview with members of the United States State Department in Beirut, to former Palestinian refugees, to the members of the Muslim Brotherhood, we are given additional points of view which add further layers of complexity to the overall battlespace. These sources additionally provide us with insight into the ideologies, perceptions, and misconceptions of those effected by the current conflict. These interviews ultimately support Erlich’s final thesis concept in the sense that the impact of the Syrian Civil War will have far and wide reaching consequences which are yet to be seen. However, Erlich’s book will at times veer away from conveying a non-biased point of view on Syria’s history and the topics covered, and instead leans toward “leftist” ideology in an attempt to add depth to his chronology. Two notable instances of Erlich deviating from a neutral stance on the content he provides can be found in both his analysis of the United States’ foreign policy, and of his apologetic attitude toward the Palestinian movement (including Hezbollah). In Chapter 11 he tries to explain the United States’ foreign policy under the Obama administration, but instead resorts to blaming the shortcomings of President Obama’s inability to influence any outcome within Syria on the Republicans, Libertarians, and isolationists within our House and Senate leadership. Erlich (2014) then claims, “Right-wing isolationists, on the other hand, used anti-interventionist rhetoric to push a racist and xenophobic agenda” (p. 223). This is just one example of where we are presented with a very subjective opinion in a book that should otherwise contain only objective information. In Chapter 10, Erlich talks about his upbringing as a Zionist, and then later abandonment his faith following a debate with the outspoken Berkeley Rabbi Isaiah Zelden over the recognized rights of the Palestinians (Erlich, 2014). From this point forward we are subtly presented with Erlich’s disdain for Israel’s occupation of the Golan heights, Israel’s attacks on Syrian soil (despite these attacks being against suspected Syrian arms support to Hezbollah), and Israel’s internal policies towards Arabs within its borders. However, what connects these inferences to his sentiments of Palestinian apologetics comes in the closing lines of his book when he states, “Palestinian leader Hannan Ashrawi told me Palestinians stand in solidarity with the people of Syria. That makes sense to me. The people of Syria' with their tradition of tolerance' will ultimately prevail” (Erlich, 2014, p. 235). Well, of course the Palestinians stand in solidarity with Assad’s Syria, as Syria has been a substantial supporter of Hezbollah in providing them political and military aid. In summary, Reese Erlich’s book Inside Syria provides us with a substantial chronology of the history of Syria leading up to today’s conflict. The complexity of the situation is well conveyed through his use of historical facts and first hand interviews. Erlich’s elaboration upon the factions attempting to influence the current battlespace of Syria’s Civil War, in addition to his conveyance of the geopolitical climate of foreign influences trying to steer this Civil War in their favor, are well articulated and support the fact that there are too many variables to predict the outcome of the current day Syrian Civil War. Aside from the sometimes heavily subjective and politically motivated opinions provided, we are presented with a great reference for gaining a better understanding the conditions and motivating factors of this conflict.

The book does a good job on describing the recent history of Syria and the current conflict. It seems balanced and shows how the current position of the US is one of no hope for a better country.

This book is a fascinating inside view of one of the Syrian centered troubled areas....one of too many in this world. Well researched and written. Written before the the most recent current events in the middle east, the book come across as prophetic. The author has many contact within the various and confusing factions in the Syrian conflict and puts them to good use. The book appears to me to be very balanced, pulling no punches and taking no sides. His sympathies are with all the victims of this ongoing and horribly devastating civil war.

It is really a series of essays and the information is repeated in each chapter. I was disappointed in this book and believe that for the price, better products are available.

Not bad.

see above

A good read. Highly recommended.

Mr. Erlich is clearly a veteran, competent and knowledgeable reporter and it shows in this book on the total mess that is Syria today. Although completed in, I think, 2014 not so much has changed to make this book in any way dated and it is a must read for anyone wanting to try and understand what is going on in that pitiful country. That Mr. Erlich lists 4 'groups' who are pro-Assad, some 13 who are anti, 7 religious groups (including Christians) and 4 foreign Islamic groups shows what a complex state of affairs has arisen since the start of the war in 2011. Then throw in the 'West', especially the ham fisted USA, and Russia and Iran and the whole is a recipe for the major disaster we have today and are likely to have into the future.The book also deals in some depth with the 'history' of what was, until the end of the 1st world war, Greater Syria and how, with bungling incompetence and total indifference to the 'locals', the likes of Sykes and Picot carved it up into pretty much what we regard as the Middle East today (look at an atlas and note the number of dead straight lines that form country boundaries within the whole region). That was really where this disaster had its seeds sown.Not a little scary and certainly very disturbing. Thank you Reese Erlich for a very interesting and informative read.

Very clear and instructive. The book has certainly sharpened my understanding of the background to the current political and humanitarian disaster in Syria.

Es una buena presentación del problema desde una optica liberal (en términos americanos) . Por desgracia, al ser un libro sobre un tema "vivo" hay que leerlo como una buena introducción y seguir buscando datos más actuales. Me ha gustado. Lo recomendaría a mis amigos.

The writer ignored too many facts and i could sense from between the lines biased toward the Syrian opposition, However, the book is still good read and i advice to buy it

A very good background on the Middle East, especially how the Belfour Accord came about, and the colonial divisions of the Middle East between Britain and France, i.e. Sykes-Picot. I got a better insight with the uprising's beginnings as well as the roles of other countries involved (up to 2014).