The Window of Democracy in Damascus: An Examination of Constitutional Discourse and Pro-Democratic Efforts .x000d.during the “Struggle for Syria”: 1946-1954.

This paper presents a single-case historical analysis of the "democratic past" in Syria. While the current regime in Damascus is exclusively authoritarian, Syria before the rise of the Ba'th and the ruling Asad family witnessed a brief period of constitutional discourse, vibrant civil society, and democratic and electoral politics. The roots of this activity can be traced to Syria's experience in the late Ottoman Empire and specifically its encounters with officials from the French Mandate. This paper utilizes extensive archival research from the U.S. Department of State Central Files on internal politics in Syria to account for this activity, and document why it failed to materialize. This analysis provides insights into the significance of ill-advised Western foreign policy and the impact of regional and international considerations on democratic political development. By studying this period, we are moreover better able to situate the discourse of the current pro-democracy movement and political opposition in Syria, and gauge the potential impacts of a "democratic past" on political development from a cursory comparative perspective of other relevant cases. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]