{"product_id":"9780857737694","title":"Power and Policy in Syria: Intelligence Services, Foreign Relations and Democracy in the Modern Middle East","description":"As Bashar al-Asad rescinds emergency rule in the face of demonstrations and protests, Syria finds itself in a key position in a Middle East beset by regional tensions, the repercussions of the global ‘war on terror’ and popular uprisings. The bloodless coup by General Hafez al-Assad, in 1970, put in place a powerful autocratic machinery at the core of the state which continues till today under the control of his son Bashar. Here Radwan Ziadeh presents a fresh and penetrating analysis of Syria’s political structure - a ‘despotic’ state monopoly, a bureaucratic climate marked by fear, and the administrative structure through which centralized control is exercised. With a focus on Syria’s intelligence services which have significant influence in legal and policy decisions, and the conditions and patterns of foreign policy decision-making, particularly vis-à-vis the US, 'Power and Policy in Syria' is essential reading for all those interested in Syria, the modern Middle East, International Relations and Security Studies.","brand":"I.B.Tauris","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47131844116720,"sku":"9780857737694","price":14.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9780857737694_p0.jpg?v=1763836948","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9780857737694","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}