{"product_id":"9781842772133","title":"Syria Neither Bread nor Freedom","description":"\u003ch1\u003eSyria\u003c\/h1\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNeither Bread nor Freedom\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAlan George\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cb\u003ePolitical Science \/ General\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp\u003eAfter the death of Syria's President Hafiz al-Asad in mid-2000, hopes were high that his son and successor, Bashar, might succeed in reforming a system that had become a byword for economic stagnation and the pitiless repression of dissent. For six months, and for the first time in decades, Syrians were able to speak freely, without fear of the hated secret police. Political discussion groups mushroomed. The press started carrying articles openly demanding democracy, and petitions were circulated insisting that democracy was essential not only for its own sake but as a condition for desperately needed investment and economic expansion.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBased on the testimony of key players, \u003ci\u003eSyria: Neither Bread Nor Freedom \u003c\/i\u003erecounts the drama of the 'Damascus Spring' and its repression, and reveals what happens in a state like Syria to the institutions that occupy the political space between government and governed. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrom political parties to parliament, from the media to the judicial system and universities, this book lifts the veil of rhetoric and propaganda to reveal a system so demoralized and corrupt that power is wielded for no purpose but power itself. This is Bashar al-Asad's legacy and the system which, given time, he hopes to reform.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp\u003eAlan George has worked as a freelance journalist and researcher, contributing to a wide range of UK and international publications including the \u003ci\u003eObserver\u003c\/i\u003e, the \u003ci\u003eIndependent \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003ePrivate Eye\u003c\/i\u003e in the UK.\u003cbr\u003eAlan George has worked as a freelance journalist and researcher, contributing to a wide range of UK and international publications including the \u003ci\u003eObserver\u003c\/i\u003e, the \u003ci\u003eIndependent \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003ePrivate Eye\u003c\/i\u003e in the UK.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePublication Date: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e01 April 2003\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePublisher: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBloomsbury Academic\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eImprint: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZed Books\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eISBN-13: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e9781842772133\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFormat: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePaperback softback\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePage Count: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e224\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWeight (oz): \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10.4\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e","brand":"Bloomsbury Academic","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51368995520652,"sku":"9781842772133","price":44.06,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0710\/9545\/1788\/files\/getimage_88e15195-f74d-4239-9766-6623d98662ee.jpg?v=1783877526","url":"https:\/\/lateknightbooks.com\/products\/9781842772133","provider":"Late Knight Books and Services, LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}