Syria stands at the centre of contemporary Middle Eastern affairs but remains poorly understood. Recent writing has focussed on the intentions and objectives of the political leadership in Damascus, yet there are many severe constraints on what senior policy-makers can actually do. This collection presents new research conducted by the contributors on rarely studied aspects of Syrian politics, economics and diplomacy. Essays on the shifting relations between the Ba'th party and the armed forces, burgeoning private enterprise, and the dramatic Turkish-Syrian detente will prove essential reading for anyone with an interest in this pivotal and assertive Middle Eastern state.