Modernization as State-Building. The Two Germanys in Syria, 1963-1972

The topic of modernization in the Middle East has been, and still is, the subject of harsh debates in social scientific and political circles, especially since it often involves different analytical as well as normative approaches: is the region unique and inherently immune to modern Western principles and standards of conduct? Do capitalism, socialism, or democracy have a chance there? The distinctive features shaping the relations among the two Germanys and Syria during the Cold War deserve scrutiny, for they shed light on the complexity of the issues at stake in the current era of international volatility. Examining the state-building projects undertaken by both Germanys in Syria from 1963 to 1972 reveals much about what modernization meant to the actors involved in the political process, what the actual influence of international politics and foreign models was, and how theoretical models were shaped by practice and political contingency.