The Public Security Speak with ‘the Voice of Syria’: Syria’s First Experiment with Authoritarian Culture

Thursday, February 12, 2015 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm

Institute For Middle East Studies

Kevin Martin will speak about the culture of authoritarianism under Syrian military dictator Adib al-Shishakli, who dominated the country's politics from 1949 to 1954. He will examine the way print and broadcast media were used to elaborate a cult of personality surrounding al-Shishakli, to celebrate authoritarianism, embodied in "The Leader," and in the armed forces and security services under his command.

Speakers

Dr. Kevin Martin is Assistant Professor of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures at Indiana University. His teaching fields include the modern Middle East, the modern Islamic World, the modern Levant (Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq), and various aspects of the cultural history of the modern Arab world.

Admission

Open to everyone.