Since its commencement in the upsurge of the Arab Spring in 2011, the Syrian civil war has claimed in excess of 200,000 lives, with an estimated 8 million Syrians, more than a third of the country's population, forced to flee their homes. A stalemate now exists but out of the vacuum has emerged the Sunni insurgents ISIS who now, it is estimated occupies some 35% of the country, as well as vast territory across the border in Iraq. The west has failed to get to grips with this conflict. The US and Europe failed to anticipate Assad's sudden actions or his counter attacks. Support from Iran and Russia make any decisive action impossible. The consequences of that miscalculation, Charles Glass contends in this illuminating and concise survey, have contributed greatly to the unfolding disaster that we witness today. Glass combines reportage, analysis and history to provide an accessible overview of the origins and permutations defining the conflict, situating it clearly in the overall crisis of the region. His voice is elegant and concise, humane and richly-informed.
