Syria Today (And For Three Years Running)

Andrew Tabler runs Syria Today, a English-language monthly magazine based in Damascus. Earlier this month, they celebrated their third anniversary -- a proud moment for any startup magazine, and even more of one that operates in Syria's repressive media environment. To mark the occassion, Tabler wrote an account of the differences between Syrian and American cultures when it comes to business and media, and his experience walking the line with the Syrian censors:

"Because of the Syrian government's strict adherence to secular politics, we rarely raise the issue of religion in Syria Today. But we are able to engage in rich debate while grounded in very different cultures. American culture is explicit, freedom-loving, and straightforward. Syrian culture is more indirect, nuanced and hierarchical -- the latter not only due to Syria's authoritarian system of government, but also because of traditional patriarchal family structures. Perhaps this is why one doesn't hear much in Syria about Western business ventures with Arab entrepreneurs; subtlety suits Syrians because involvement with Westerners could be used against them. In the West, we often shout about such things from the rooftops. It's a matter of style, not substance."

Tabler is not under any illusions that he can cover every issue without regards to Syrian repression, but I think his magazine nevertheless provides a useful source of information about Syria to the outside world. And it is surprising how willing he is to push the envelope. He calls the work of the daily Syria Times as "convoluted, Orwellian-style propaganda," and characterizes the last 40 years of Syrian government as "badly administered Soviet-style socialism." Tabler knows as much about Syria as any American I've read, and his voice is a valuable addition to our base of knowledge. Happy birthday, guys.