Syria's peasantry, the descendants of its lesser rural notables, and their politics
By: Hanna Batatu.
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Published: 1999
Place of publication: Princeton, N.J
Language: eng
Number of pages: 413
Subjects: Assad, Hafez, 1928-; Ḥizb al-Baʻth al-ʻArabī al-Ishtirākī (Syria); Peasantry -- Syria -- Political activity -- History -- 20th century; Syria -- Politics and government -- 20th century
Description: In this book, Hanna Batatu presents a comprehensive analysis of the recent social, economic, and political evolution of Syria's peasantry, the segment of society from which the current holders of political power stem. Batatu focuses mainly on the twentieth century and, in particular, on the Ba'th movement, the structures of power after the military coup d'etat of 1963, and the era of Hafiz al-Asad, Syria's first ruler of peasant extraction.

Without seeking to prove any single theory about Syrian life, he offers a uniquely rich and detailed account of how power was transferred from one demographic group to another and how that power is maintained today.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 391-403) and indexes.