Syrian Foreign Policy and the United States: From Bush to Obama

Exploring the evolution of Syrian foreign policy under President Bashar al-Assad, this concise volume focuses on Syria’s relationship with the United States. The authors consider the enduring determinants of Syrian policy, as well as such key issues as the country’s involvement in Lebanon and its stance vis-à-vis the war in Iraq. They also assess the personal role of President al-Assad and the impact of external forces on internal reforms.Contents:Foreword—R. HinnebuschSyria Under Bashar: Between Economic Reform and Nationalist Realpolitik—R. Hinnebusch.Syrian Foreign Policy: Between Domestic Needs and the External Environment—M.J. Kabalan.The Role of Bashar al-Assad in Syrian Foreign Policy—D. Lesch.Inching Out of Isolation: Managing a Different Relationship with Syria—B. Kodmani