WI: Syria and Lebanon never separated?

[qazse]

While Syria and Lebanon were under French rule as a League of Nations mandate, they were joined as a single entity, the "Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon". What if they had gained independence as a single nation? How would the histories of both nations be changed with them united under a single banner?

 

[marathag]

Ottoman administrative areas

Main issue would be over power sharing between Maronite Christians and Druze, Alawi, Shiite and Sunni

 

[boredviewer1234]

While Syria and Lebanon were under French rule as a League of Nations mandate, they were joined as a single entity, the "Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon". What if they had gained independence as a single nation? How would the histories of both nations be changed with them united under a single banner?

Likely far richer with the combined resources and Ports leading to far stronger focus on trade.

Granted one of the biggest changes would likely be how France would run it, if their is a strong rail system to connect them, then their that would affect a lot of things later as it means troops can easily be brought around to their southern flank.

I can't imagine France giving up Alexandria in this timeline with the much stronger Syrian nationalism.

 

[Deleted member 2186]

While Syria and Lebanon were under French rule as a League of Nations mandate, they were joined as a single entity, the "Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon". What if they had gained independence as a single nation? How would the histories of both nations be changed with them united under a single banner?

So how would this country be called.

 

[Ahab]

So how would this country be called.

It would be called Syria, as that was the most prestigious name.

 

[Deleted member 2186]

It would be called Syria, as that was the most prestigious name.

Well nothing will change much during the 1948 war as Lebanon in OTL also was fighting Israel.

 

[boredviewer1234]

Well nothing will change much during the 1948 war as Lebanon in OTL also was fighting Israel.

No The French got Syria in 1918, that decades to change the situation in the middle east.

 

[Deleted member 109224]

If you cast a big butterfly net, it could mean that Israel grabs Southern Lebanon along with the Golan Heights in 1967.

 

[boredviewer1234]

If you cast a big butterfly net, it could mean that Israel grabs Southern Lebanon along with the Golan Heights in 1967.

It could also mean the Israeli state does not exist, depending on how France treats the much larger colony.

If it's used as say like Free France used African colonies for manpower it could mean a large veteran core allows Syria to take land in 1948.

 

[marathag]

It could also mean the Israeli state does not exist, depending on how France treats the much larger colony.

If it's used as say like Free France used African colonies for manpower it could mean a large veteran core allows Syria to take land in 1948.

IMO, they would jettison Syria, quickly, given the pre-war troubles they had, adding in the Jews and Palestinian Arabs to themix won't help.

Doesn't help for France to be in the UKs shoes after WWII, and they try to keep control over their Mandate areas, in addition to the trouble brewing in Algeria.

You would see more autonomous areas, like OTLs Greater Lebanon , but also areas that didn't happen, like land for the Kurds and Alawites in place of the prewar Syrian Republic, in addition to a small Israel, similar to maps above

 

[snerfuplz]

I wonder if the minorities would be happy with an autonomous zone. Say an autonomous zone around the Sanjaq of Beriut (Mannorite) and the Sanjaq of Latkia+Tripoli (Alawai)

 

[walmart]

Assuming nothing changes in terms of internal politics. Lebanon will be poorer on account of Syria’s poor economic decisions and the Syrian civil war. On the religious issues, Lebanon will see an expansion of Syria’s with the Christian, Shia, and segments of the Sunni population supporting the government.

 

[Monk78]

a more stable and prosperous syria in postwar period

 

[marathag]

Assuming nothing changes in terms of internal politics. Lebanon will be poorer on account of Syria’s poor economic decisions and the Syrian civil war. On the religious issues, Lebanon will see an expansion of Syria’s with the Christian, Shia, and segments of the Sunni population supporting the government.

Things would bound to be different before WWII. There already was a war/Revolt in 1925-7, 5 years after the French kicked out King Faisal, and States created under French Mandate control

Revolt ended, with the French doing much of the same pacification they later tried in Algeria
The Christians in Lebanon did not revolt, but saw the French as Protectors, local Muslims didn't see thing the same way, wanted to be part of Syria, and moved from being a autonomous state, like they were to a degree under the Ottomans, to being Independent, split from Syria
All the states were reformed back into one Syrian State before WWII, except Lebanon

Without the reward for the Maronites getting Lebanon, they will be causing more trouble

 

[GrandMaster]

Damascus would be the capital of the merged nation.

 

[walmart]

The Christians in Lebanon did not revolt

Without the reward for the Maronites getting Lebanon, they will be causing more trouble

The Alawites didn’t revolt during the 1920s and many of them opposed the joining Syria yet look where they ended up. Religious minorities in the Arab world unless they are in charge back the ruling government or Arab nationalist groups on the basis of secularism.

 

[marathag]

The Alawites didn’t revolt during the 1920s and many of them opposed the joining Syria yet look where they ended up.

The French favored them, the Alawites were just as much a minority as the Maronites, but they didn't get independence like they did. But being more pro-France put more Alawites in higher political positions, as with future head of Syria, Al-Assad's father was appointed by the French. After the French left, Al-Assad joined the Baath Party, that was open to Alawites, unlike most others that you had to be a Sunni.

 

[Dingus Khan]

What are the chances that a united Syria-Lebanon falls into a full-scale civil war? It would make the real-life civil wars in Lebanon and Syria look less complicated by comparison, there's so many factions that could emerge from such a hypothetical conflict.

 

[HistoricalArthropod]

I dont know why everyone just assumes a civil war like otl will happen. It could happen, maybe, but it's far from an uncertainty. The addition of Lebanon doesnt overly changed the ethno religious composition of Syria, with the exception of of the Maronites. But besides them, every other sect in Lebanon already also exists in Syria.

 

[Monk78]

Arab republic of Sha’am