Introduction
Chronology
Vital statistics
1. ‘A certain equality of misery‘: An overview of Syria
2. Damascus spring: Rise of the civil society movement
3. Damascus winter: Suppression of the civil society movement
4. ‘The leading party in society and the state‘: The Ba‘ath Party
5. ‘The light of freedom‘: Parliament
6. ‘Subject to no authority but the law‘: The legal system
7. ‘Balanced, objective and ethical‘: The media
8. ‘Creating a socialist, nationalist generation‘: Education
9. ‘Our leader…for ever‘? Whither Syria?
Appendices