In this episode of “Makhyal”, we host writer and university professor Ahmed Jassim Al-Hussein, who takes us on a comprehensive journey through modern Syrian history, starting with the fall of the Ottoman Empire and the emergence of the Syrian Arab Kingdom, all the way to the Syrian Revolution and the major transformations that followed in the political, social and economic landscape. We begin the episode by talking about the emergence of the Syrian Arab Kingdom in the aftermath of World War I, which was the beginning of the dream of independence for Syrians after the end of Ottoman rule. The guest discusses the San Remo Conference, the French mandate, the role of the National Bloc in resisting colonialism, and how the Syrians succeeded in obtaining partial and then complete independence, while shedding light on the presidential elections during that period. The guest talks about the most prominent figures who left their mark on Syrian history, such as Hashim Al-Atassi and Shukri Al-Quwatli, and their role in shaping the Syrian national identity. He also discusses the military coups that Syria witnessed in the mid-twentieth century, such as the coups of Husni Al-Zaim and Sami Al-Hinnawi, and how these transformations contributed to reshaping the political system. The episode moves on to shed light on the unity between Syria and Egypt, its role in the Arab scene, and why it ended so quickly. The guest also discusses the era of President Hafez al-Assad, who divided his rule into three phases, focusing on his domestic and foreign policies. The dialogue reviews how Assad used the Alawite sect and state institutions to consolidate his rule, the impact of the Hama massacre and Tadmur prison, and the internal conflict with Rifaat al-Assad. The episode does not stop there, but rather addresses the era of Bashar al-Assad, starting with the outbreak of the Syrian revolution and the role of international and regional powers in dividing Syria, all the way to the Russian-Iranian alliance and their effects on the domestic scene. The guest also discusses the withdrawal of Syrian forces from Lebanon and the assassination of Rafik Hariri, and the events that followed that affected the fate of Syria. The guest shares his personal memoirs about his childhood and upbringing in Damascus, his university career, and his experience as an opponent of the Syrian regime, especially after he left for exile in the Netherlands. He talks about how he was able to build a new professional life as a university professor and businessman, with a detailed analysis of the future of Syria and ways to restore the state after years of conflict. The episode also sheds light on the issue of demographic change in Syria and the role of Iran in this regard, in addition to talking about Russian and Iranian interests and their intersections inside Syria. The guest presents his vision of the Syrian revolution, how it reached the stage of partial victory, and why it was not completed. The episode also discusses the precise details of Rifaat al-Assad's attempts to overthrow his brother Hafez al-Assad, and how Hafez succeeded in confronting this attempt, and the role of the Makhlouf family in the survival of the Syrian regime. The guest talks about the cultural and media institutions during the era of Hafez al-Assad, and whether they were part of the tools of power in shaping public opinion. In another part of the episode, the guest discusses the period after the death of Hafez al-Assad and the rise of Bashar al-Assad to power. He talks about Bashar's role in the Lebanese file, the outbreak of the Damascus Spring, then Syria's entry into the popular revolution and the international interventions that followed. The guest reveals new details about his meetings with Bashar al-Assad, the reasons for his opposition to the regime, and how he was able to leave Syria. The episode concludes with a discussion of the future of Syria, and how Syrians can overcome the effects of the conflict and rebuild the state. The guest presents his personal vision of national reconciliation, the role of the international community in supporting stability in Syria, and what is required to build a modern state that meets the aspirations of the Syrian people. #Makhyal program comes to you every Friday on Saudi Channel .. presented by Abdullah Al-Bandar at 1:05 PM Links: Abdullah Al-Bandar on the X platform https://x.com/a_albander?s=11 Link to the Mekhyal website https://mekhyal.net/ Episode topics: 00:00 Introduction 02:50 Syria after the end of Ottoman rule 15:30 The Great Syrian Revolution 32:25 Churchill's promise to the Syrians 42:00 Husni Al-Zaim's coup against Shukri Al-Quwatli 45:50 The military game in Syria 58:40 The unity between Egypt and Syria 01:18:55 Al-Atassi as president of Syria 01:34:40 Assad's rule without coups 01:56:40 Who is leading the Syrian scene? 02:03:40 The cultural scene in Syria 02:17:20 The third phase of Hafez al-Assad's rule