Through fieldwork centering Syrian voices, this book explores wartime governing authority and the possibilities and limits of Western intervention therein.
'With theoretical sophistication and empirical richness, Mukhopadyay and Howe bring to life a crucial development in the Syrian war: the creation of local councils in rebel-controlled territory. This captivating account demonstrates how insurgent rule is not only shaped by coercive capacities and material resources, but also mediated by varied forms of connection between insurgent rulers and local communities. Brimming with the extraordinary voices of civilians who demanded and worked for better politics, it is required reading for students of rebel governance, foreign intervention, and Syria.' Wendy Pearlman, Northwestern University
1. Introduction; 2. The good governance bazaar; 3. Reconceptualizing rebel governance; 4. Studying Syria 'From the Verandah'; 5. Raqqa's caliphal social contract; 6. Saraqeb's limited access order; 7. Darayya's fervent enclave; 8. Aleppo city's republican guild; 9. The Syrian interim government as 'Floating' counter-state; 10. Revolutionary possibilities and international imaginings.