Reconstructing Baʾathist Syria through Cultural Heritage and State Media

Bibliographic Data

ID6442328
AuthorsC Crone (0000-0003-0041-7327, University of Copenhagen, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume17
Issue4
Pages295-315
Publication date2025-01-20
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueMiddle East Journal of Culture and Communication (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1873-9857 • E-ISSN: 1873-9865
PublisherBrill (PUBLISHER • NL)
DOI10.1163/18739865-01704005
OpenAlexW4406715929
LanguageEN
References cited18

This article analyzes Syrian state media coverage on the reconstruction of the citadel, the Umayyad Mosque and the old souq in Aleppo to investigate how the Syrian Baʾathist state is using destruction and reconstruction of significant cultural heritage to construct a post-war narrative. This narrative promotes an understanding of the Baʾathist state as the protector of Syrian cultural heritage and thus the protector of Syrian nationhood and civilization. The article argues that it is of crucial importance to the Baʾathist state to control the symbolic meaning of the national cultural heritage in its endeavor to create a viable post-war narrative and understands the state media’s coverage of selected reconstruction projects in Aleppo as part of the ongoing battle over how to remember (or forget) the years of upheaval and war. This continued battle over the narrative is essentially a battle over the social memories of the Syrian people and the politically constructed memories of the state

Ancient history · Archaeology · Art · Battle · Civilization · Construct (python library · Cultural heritage · Epistemology · Literature · Meaning (existential · Media studies · Narrative · Sociology · State (computer science · Archaeological Research and Protection · Archaeology and Historical Studies · Computer Science · History · Middle East and Rwanda Conflicts · Philosophy