20th Century Syria: Evolution of Politics, Economy, and Foreign Relations

Author: Wang Xinggang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-10-01
Features: Syria in the 20th Century also explores the economic development path of Syria after independence. Syria experienced a similar economic development path as most third-world countries, but it also had its own unique characteristics. First, Syria is a non-oil-producing country, but since the 1970s, it has discovered small amounts of oil, and oil revenue has become a significant source of foreign exchange. Second, as a non-oil-producing Arab country, it received substantial aid from oil-producing Arab nations, and both the East and the West provided it with a certain amount of assistance, making foreign aid a major source of development funds for Syria. Third, due to its long-standing war with Israel, Syria has a heavy military burden, which exerts significant pressure on its economy. Finally, since the 1980s, while many Arab countries have embarked on reforms, Syria's reforms have been slow. This book provides meaningful discussions on the beginnings of Syria's modern national economy, the development of its national economy after independence, the formation and evolution of its planned economy system, and the successes and failures of its recent economic reforms.