Tag Archives: Syria

Understanding And Overcoming Syria’s Urban-Rural Divide

Posted on December 17, 2024 by nathanalbright

The urban-rural divide in Syria represents one of the most significant historical cleavages in Syrian society, with roots stretching back to the Ottoman period and earlier. This division has profoundly shaped Syria’s political development and continues to present challenges for … Continue reading →

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The Decapolis: A Hellenistic Federation In The Levant

Posted on December 16, 2024 by nathanalbright

The Decapolis: A Hellenistic Federation in the Levant The Decapolis stands as one of the most fascinating examples of Hellenistic cultural persistence in the Near East, representing a loose federation of cities that maintained Greek cultural and political traditions well … Continue reading →

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The Druze: A Distinctive Middle Eastern Community

Posted on December 14, 2024 by nathanalbright

The Druze community represents a fascinating example of religious and cultural distinctiveness in the Middle East, with origins dating back to the 11th century CE. Their faith emerged during the Fatimid Caliphate when a group of Ismaili Muslims, led by … Continue reading →

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Conditions For Refugee Repatriation After Conflicts: A Historical Analysis

Posted on December 10, 2024 by nathanalbright

The return of refugees to their homelands represents a complex phenomenon that requires multiple stabilizing conditions to occur successfully. Historical analysis reveals several key patterns in refugee repatriation following major conflicts and crises. The post-World War II period provides one … Continue reading →

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Designing A Federal System For Syria

Posted on December 9, 2024 by nathanalbright

A federal system in Syria would need to carefully account for the complex ethno-religious demographics and historical power dynamics that have shaped the nation. The primary challenge lies in developing a system that can accommodate diverse groups while maintaining territorial … Continue reading →

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Bijî Kurdistan

Posted on October 8, 2019 by nathanalbright

For some time the Kurds have been a people whose fate I have pondered and reflected upon [1].  And there is good reason for that, several good reasons in fact.  For one, as someone who was born to a family … Continue reading →

Posted in International Relations, Middle East, Musings | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Non-Book Review: The Principality Of Antioch And Its Frontiers In The Twelfth Century

Posted on April 19, 2017 by nathanalbright

The Principality Of Antioch And Its Frontiers In The Twelfth Century, by Andrew D. Buck One of my favorite parts of being a prolific book reviewer for the De Re Militari is being able to read books on a variety … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Christianity, History, International Relations, Middle East, Military History | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

It’s Fire In The Streets Now, But It’s Quiet In Your Head

Posted on April 7, 2017 by nathanalbright

Shortly after starting this blog, the violence of the ongoing Syrian Civil War became something I paid attention to from time to time.  Given my time constraints, writing about it at length has not been feasible, because it is nothing … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Musings | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Bang Bang (My Neighbor Shot Me Down)

Posted on November 25, 2015 by nathanalbright

One of the unfortunate spillover effects from the ongoing problems in Syria [1] is the rising tensions between Russia and Turkey, two neighbors who have historically not seen eye to eye for a variety of reasons over a long period … Continue reading →

Posted in Church of God, History, Military History, Musings | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

The World’s Worst Kickstarter Idea

Posted on September 11, 2013 by nathanalbright

Earlier tonight as I was facebooking, which can often be a hazardous activity when one has as many odd friends and acquaintances as I do, I saw what may be the worst ever idea for a kickstarter. For those who … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, History, International Relations, Middle East, Military History | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments