My Struggle for Syria : A Woman in Arab Politics

The testimony of Bassma Kodmani (1959-2023) recounting her fight for democratic change in Syria.

This account by Bassma Kodmani details her passionate fight for democratic change in Syria. It is both her personal testimony and a unique historical document. As a westernised Syrian intellectual who, in 2011, became a figure of the Syrian opposition in exile, her candid narrative sheds fresh light on this conflict with its multiple twists and turns drawn from her direct involvement over a decade. Kodmani participated in and initiated meetings and negotiations with diplomats and politicians from around the world. Her testimony covers the exclusive behind-the-scenes revelations about conversations with local and international officials and follows the mutations of the Syrian conflict. The missed opportunities, broken promises and the changing positions of some of the world’s most important leaders revealed in this book illuminate the regional geopolitics of the Syrian conflict that are still unresolved today. An important source for scholars in Syria studies, Kodmani''s personal reflections add a human element to the political analysis.