Arab tribes and the rise of the nation-state in Syria from 1946 until 1970

This chapter deals with the relationship between the state and the tribes from the period following the independence of Syria in 1947, until 1970. During this period, Syria witnessed different military coups and a union with Egypt that lasted for three years. The common themes for this period are the will of the central government to break tribal power in Syria, and the economic and political rise of tribal leaders who became large landowners and disconnected from their tribesmen. Different measures initiated by the government weakened tribal power and led to the departure of major tribes from Syria in response to these measures.