![]() ![]() The latest however was to conduct this interview, which he graciously took the time to consider my questions and answer each of them thoroughly and deeply. Through an in-depth examination of the role of sectarian, regional and tribal loyalties in Syria, van Dam traces political developments within the Assad regime and the military and civilian power elite from the Arab Spring to the present day. He explains the recent history of Syria, covering the growing disenchantment with the Assad regime, the chaos of civil war and the fractures which led to the rise and expansion of ISIS. His latest book Destroying a Nation: The Civil War in Syria (also in Arabic (2018): تدمير وطن: الحرب الاهلية في سوريا) is maybe the most comprehensive and objective report on Syria. ![]() ![]() Retired now, Van Dam has more time to contemplate on Syria and to see where thing went wrong in the Syrian revolution. Not many people can be both academic and active but Van Dam is. He was the Special Envoy for Syria and he got only more elegant and knowledgeable in his area of knowledge. He totally fascinated me with his deep knowledge and mild nature. Nikolaos van Dam in Damascus years before the revolution. His book, Destroying a Nation, reflected those experiences. During the Syrian uprising, he served as the Dutch Special Envoy to Syria, operating from Istanbul, and had intensive contact with most of the parties involved in the conflict. Nikolaos van Dam* is a Dutch diplomat and scholar, author of a classic text on Syrian politics and sectarianism, The Struggle for Power in Syria (2011). ![]()
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