From Mandate to Independance: Syria's Shifting perspective on Arab unity 1920-1946

Abstract Objectives: This article examines Syrian perspectives toward Arab unity plans from the inception of the French Mandate in 1921 until Syria’s independence in 1947. It analyzes the stance of the French Mandate authorities regarding various proposals for Arab unity and explores the impact of World War II on the region. This study evaluates two major unification projects that emerged following independence: the Greater Syria Plan and the framework of the Arab League. Methods : This research combines archival research with historical and comparative analysis. This approach not only clarifies Syria's pivotal role but also engages with broader historiographical debates on nationalism and post-colonial sovereignty in the Middle East. Results : Findings reveals that Syrian engagement with Arab unity was fundamentally shaped by its colonial experience and the geopolitical turmoil of World War II. It finds that Syrian elites consistently prioritized republican sovereignty and national independence over pan-Arab ideological commitments. Conclusions : This article concludes that the Syrian case illustrates a central paradox of the post-Ottoman order: the colonial division of the Levant simultaneously ignited the dream of Arab unity while creating the structural and political barriers that made its realization impossible. Syria’s pivotal role, as both an object of unification schemes and an architect of the Arab state system, was decisive in shaping the modern Middle East. Keywords : Syria, Greater Syria, Arab League, Abdullah, Unity, Mandate, Independence