Fransa’nın Manda İdaresi Altında Suriye’nin Bölünmesi ve Lazkiye Aleviler Devleti (1920-1946)

France, which captured Syria to protect its interests in the Mediterranean and Middle East at theend of the World War I, endeavoured to implement the “divide and rule” policy as the easiestway of reigning over these territories. In line with that policy, they established Lebanon, Druse,Alawite, Damascus and Aleppo states in Syria, which they divided according to ethnic, religious anddenominational differences and used these states as an instrument to attain their benefits in the region.According to these policies, the French used especially the Nusayris, which were also called Alawi.The Nusayris which had their own state under the name of “Alawite State” during the mandategovernment of France in Syria, were connected to the Syrian State when France terminated themandate government in Syria in 1946.This paper gives information about being a Nusayri and the Latakia region where the Nusayris liveintensely, in the introduction section. It discusses the operations performed by the French to capturethe region as from the World War I and invasion of the region, under the title “The Process Leadingto the French Occupation in Syria”. The paper also discusses the policies implemented by the Frenchthroughout their mandate government in these territories and reactions to these policies, under the title “Ethnic and Religious Division of Syria under the French Mandate and the Alawite State”.As distinct from the articles written especially on this issue, the paper reviews the “Alawite State”and developments concerning this state using relevant works, compilations, newspapers and archivedocuments of the era.
Keywords: Alawite State, France, Nusayri, Syria