SOAS Research Online

Abstract

This thesis studies agrarian reform in Syria from 1958 to 1973, examining the hypothesis that the reform has been used by successive governments to impose a new political and economic structure on the country. One particular province, Hama, is studied in detail. The first chapter outlines the political and economic developments that led up to the agrarian reforms in 1958. The second chapter is concerned with the land ownership structure in Syria in 1958 and the extent to which inequalities in land holdings existed. The third and fourth chapters deal with the provisions of the agrarian reform laws. Modification of the laws resulting from changes of government and the implementation of the laws are also studied. The development of planning and state control of the agricultural sector is dealt with in Chapter five. In this chapter the extent to which planning and investment has been integrated with the agrarian reforms is also studied. In Chapter six the development of agricultural production from 1958 to 1973 is discussed in the context of the agrarian reform laws and agricultural planning and investment. Chapters seven, eight and nine deal with the agrarian reform in the province of Hama. Chapter seven is concerned with the expropriation and distribution of land. In Chapter eight the setting up of co-operatives and the work of the Agricultural Co-operative Bank is studied. Chapter nine contains a study of the Ghab irrigation scheme in the province of Hama and also includes a detailed study of the development of agricultural production in the province.