"Exploring both the historical origins of Syria's religious sects and their present-day dominance of the Syrian social scene, The Religious Roots of the Syrian Conflict identifies these groups' distinct beliefs and relates how the actions of the religious authorities and political entrepreneurs acting on behalf of their particular sects expose them to sectarian violence, culminating in the dissolution of the nation-state. Mark Tomass employs ethnographic accounts used in anthropology and conceptual tools based in economics to describe the formation of sectarian groups, a multidisciplinary approach which details how the sects have consistently generated civil conflicts within the Fertile Crescent, both before and after the formation of the nation-states of Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria. "-- "This book explores both the historical origins of Syria's religious sects and their present-day dominance of the Syrian social scene. It identifies these groups' distinct beliefs and relates how the actions of the religious authorities and political entrepreneurs acting on behalf of their particular sects expose them to sectarian violence, culminating in the dissolution of the nation-state"-- Provided by publisher. Provided by publisher.

Includes maps of: Middle East; Syria; Fertile Crescent of Antiquity, 4000-1500 BC; Fertile Crescent Divided Between the Byzantine and Persian (Sasanian) Empires on the Eve of the Muslim Arab Conquest, AD 635; Fertile Crescent with Territories in Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq Controlled by Rival Forces.

Machine generated contents note: -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- 1. The Significance of Religious Identity -- 2. The Fertile Crescent Meets the Muslim Arabs -- 3. Formation of the Jewish Identity -- 4. Formation of Christian Sectarian Identities -- 5. Formation of Muslim Sectarian Identities -- 6. The Islamization of the Fertile Crescent -- 7. Social and Psychological Roots of Religious Conflict -- 8. The New Media and the Islamic Awakening -- 9. From the Arab Spring to the Revolt of the Sunna -- 10. The Remaking of the Fertile Crescent -- 11. Aleppo War Photos 2012-2014 -- Index.