The Strategies in Dealing with Political Conflict in Syria : Study of Khalid Khalifah ’ s

Novel La Sakakin fi Mathabikhi hadzihil-Madinah (LSMHM) is considered to have an intense ideological and political nuance for its narration on conflict. It is worth reading this novel to observe the measures chosen by the characters in dealing with existing conflict and its impacts. Sociological approach to literature is applied to reveal the strategy. The reading reveals that the characters in this novel have various strategies in dealing with conflict and related problems. Contending, yielding, problem solving, withdrawing, and inaction are the possible strategies. However, none of the characters choose yielding or problem solving. The existing preferences seem to be the writer’s outlook on that conflict. The conflict itself has been inflicting refuge, social manipulation, excision, and harassment.


INTRODUCTION
Novel La Sakakin fi Mathabikhi hadzihil-Madinah (LSMHM) is the work of a Syria writer, Khalid Khalifah.This novel recounts a family without a father who chose to leave his family to live with another woman.The pain of being abandoned by the father was getting worse when the Syria conflict bursted out.The conflict was triggered by power struggle which was done by a party through a coup d'etat.Aleppo, where the family was living, must be left behind because it turned out to be a battlefield.
That migration was not necessarily giving a peace in the life of this family.They still experienced the presure of the ruling party in many aspects of life.They could no longer feel comfortable the pleasure.They had to live in conflicts.Each person in that family, as well as other people of the same fate had to have their own strategy or technique to deal with the conflict.The character of mother, compared to other characters, tended to be reserved.Meanwhile, the character of Susan had many ways to deal with the conflict.Various strategies done by the characters is very interesting to be explored deeper because, as stated by Swingewood, literary work is a sociocultural document which is possibly applied to observe a phenomenon of a society at certain time (Wahyudi, 2013:57).
LSMHM was completed on 2013.It means that this novel was written before Syria revolution, which is still continuing until today, and set on 1963 when Baath party brought out a revolution in Syria.Eventhough the novel is newly published, it gains a great appreciation from the readers in Arab.In 2013, this novel received Naguib Mahfouz Award.Therefore, it was then nominated to receive the best Arabic novel award in 2014.Five novels, i.e.Frankenstein in Baghdad (Ahmed Saadawi), A Rare Blue Bird that Flies with Me (Youssef Fadel), Tashari (Inaam Kachachi), The Journeys of 'Abdi (Abdelrahim Lahbibi), and The Blue Elephant (Ahmed Mourad), competed with this novel, but then it was Frankenstein in Baghdad which won the award.Furthermore, the title of this novel, la sakakin fi mathabih hadzihi al-madinah was the title of the speech of Syria's president, Amin al-Hafez (ruled the country from July 1963 until February1966).Because of that title, many experts on Arabic novel considered this novel having an intense political and ideological nuance (Shalal:2014, Husain:2014).
As a work, LSMHM is a miniature of the world (Ratna, 2011:35).It means that this novel carrys on the function to list the events which have been constructed in creativity and imagination patterns.The novel even implicates a deep motivation, reconstruction of social awareness assumption which is verbally expressed (Ratna, 2011:40).There is no novel which is completely detached from social life (Ratna, 2011:43).
The events, especially the strategy of the characters in LSMHM, then can be considered as a representation of what is actually happening in Syria.Therefore, a deeper reading or analyis toward this work needs to be done to observe the strategy and technique of the characters in dealing with the conflict.Through that reading, the strategy to deal with political conflict and its impact, especially in Syria, will be identified.It is important since conflicts among the countries, etnic groups, sects, or even tribes frequently occur in Middle East region, included Syria.Besides, appreciation for Syria's literary works mostly come from the poems, especially Nizar Qabbani, so study on the novels is worth a try.
The reading of LSMHM have been carried out several times.However, they were just on the review level and not scientifically analysing it (by certain theory and method).One of those appreciations is from Shalal (www.alquds.co.uk) who remarks this last work of Khalid Khalifah as a naration turning into a prototype a real life.According to Shalal, Khalifah writes this story as a depiction of existing ideology in Syria which is expressed through an intense political nuance.Preferences between right or wrong which are depicted stiffly seem to be a confirmation that the is story is about an authoritarian regime of an ideology.Husain (www.aljazeera.net)addresses la sakakin fi mathabik hadzihi al-madinah as historical novel of the modern Aleppo.The shettered condition of the city after Baath revolution is tragically depicted in the conversation between terrified refugees and those who patriotically fight against the ruling regime.Two strongholds in Aleppo city are also depicted here.The only study with the same object is conducted by Munawwar Manshur (2015), using Roland Barthes' approach "Theory of Plural Text".
Several studies related with Syria were conducted by Hamdan (2012) Those violations are in the form of government's incapability in fulfilling their obligation to their people.She also concludes that recent turbulence is the accumulation of undemocratic government.Hence, the reading LSMHM is a right measure because it will reveal more things about Syria.
In his study entitled Kebudayaan Arab Suriah dalam Perspektif Sastra dan Agama (Arabic Syrian Culture in the Perspective of Literature and Religion), Munawwar Manshur treats a work as the reflection of a real life.Several Syrian writers' work with revolution theme are employed as the object of his study to identify Syrian culture characters in order to analyse the causes of Syrian conflict from different viewpoint.That study concludes that the conflict is sectarian conflict, but it's major cuase is the state's failure in applying a democratic political system and stopping monopoly on authority which concentrated in certain elite.

THEORY AND METHOD
Literary work basically is not personal activitity.Instead, it expresses impersonal issues, overpasses sociological boundaries and historical periods (Ratna, 2011:134).A novel writer obviously would not only express personal issues, but also social issues (Ratna, 2001:104).Even, a literary work which is evoked through social problems would be an everlasting work (Ratna, 2007:157).Ratna (2007:157) states that literary work has homology and is symmetrical to its social structure.The relation between literary work and its society is not different from the relation between culture and its society (Ratna, 2007:162).Even to the Marxist, a literary work should have social function, serve the people, and be the integral part of communist (Ratna, 2007:163).From the above viewpoints, it can be concluded that a work is a prototype of society where the work is born.
Still according to Ratna (2004:332-333) there are several reasons why literary work or novel has a close relation to society which needs to be analysed in regards with its relation to society.The reasons are a).literary works is written by writer, narrated by narrator, and copied by copier, b).literary work lives in society and absorbs society's aspect and in turn will be functioned by society, c). the medium of literary work is language which is part of the society, d).literary works contain aesthetic, ethic, as well as logic which are all important for society, and e).literary works is the nature of intersubjectivity.Society find themselves in a work.
Since literary work is part of a society, it certainly needs other disciplins to approach it, which in this case are sociology and anthropology.However, it is important to pay attention to domination of literary work in this study, while other disciplins function as subsidiaries.This statement needs to be reaffirmed that what plays the role is literary work with its implications, such as theory of literature, cristics of literature, and history of literature.A misunderstanding in analysis, such as giving priority to the subsidiaries, will make literary work as the second object or complementary (Ratna, 2004:338-339).
According to Junus (1986:1), there are three approaches when it comes to sociology of literature.First, work observed from the social position of the writer.Second, work observed for sociocultural documents.Third, work observed from the acceptance of the society upon that work.Meanwhile, Wellek and Waren in their book Theory of Literature (1989) classify sociology of literature into three aspects of study, i.e. sociology of the writer, sociology of literary work, and sociology concerning on readers and social impacts of literary works.The orthers, Swingewood and Laurenson (1972:13-21) talk about three perspectives in studying literary work, i.e. literary work as sociocultural document, literary work as the social condition reflection of the writer, and the attempt to track how a literary work is actually accpeted by certain society at a certain moment.In the case of LSMHM, sociology of literature will be used in reading the novel, particulary the perspective that literary work is the social condition reflection.Reflection concept in sociology of literature considers literature as the imitation (mimesis) of the society.Swingewood (1972:15)  Interest will in turn be interpreted into as aspiration.A conflict can occur if aspirations of both parties increase but there is no alternative ehich can satisfy them.The increase of apiration is caused by one of these two things: first, each party feels that they are able to gain the object, or second, both parties believe that they deserve to get the object.Conflict generally occurs when social norms are getting weaker or going through revolution.
When a conflict occurs, there are five strategies which can be opted by conflicted parties.
1. Contending, that is trying to apply solutions which are more satisfying for one party.2. Yielding, that is letting down one's own aspiration and willing to accept less than one's expectation.3. Problem solving, which is seeking for alternatives which satisfy both parties.4. Withdrawing, that is to choose leaving conflict situation, either physically or psychologically.Inaction, or doing nothing (Pruitt, 2009:4-6).There are two ways to track down the strategy opted by conflicted party.The first is dual concern model, that is tracking down strategy preferences based on the strength of concern upon accepted result.Second, perceived feasibility perspective, that is giving attribute to the preferences based on the cost and the achievement (perception of occurance possibility).
Data analysis method employed in this study is adapted to Alan Swingewood's theory, sociology of literature.According to Swingewood and Laurenson, there are two methods employed to analyse literary work using the study of sociology of literature.The first method is sociology of literature.This method is employed to study literary work which begins from outside of literary work.The second method is literary of sociology.This method is employed to analyse literary work which begins from literary text.That literary work then will be related to social life (Swingewood and Laurenson 1972:72).
Besides, Swingewood gives three concepts to perform literary work approach, i.e. literary work as the reflection of the age, literary work perceived from its production process, and literature in history relationship.For the first concept, Swingewood describes the most relevant way to find out the relationship between literary work and social patterns, that is by relating intrinsic data of the text to reality of life (Wahyudi, 2013:57).

Strategy of novel's characters in dealing with conflict
This novel tells us about a conflict experienced by a family who live at Aleppo and refuse to join ruling party, that is Baath party.As the consequnce, they were up against party's concern.Universal concern, such as sense of security, happiness, as well as self identity are up against party's authotarian policy.That conflict of interest occurs because after coup d'etat, the norms which were previously solid are now getting weaker and changing.The setting of this novel is between 1963 to 2005 or about forty years, which means one generation.
There are some strategies applied by novel's characters in dealing with conflict.However, firstly we should understand what the meaning of strategy in Pruitt's view is.According to (2009:7), strategies are various purposes, and tools or ways are needed to achieve those purposes.

Character of Mother
Character of mother in this novel is depicted as a mother of four kids, who was abandoned by his husband.Before fully at home as a house wife, she worked as a teacher.It is depicted that she was very proud of wertern culture.She was born in a middle class society and loved quietness, neatness, and cleanliness.
The strategy she chose to deal with the conflict is withdrawal and inaction.Mother withdrew herself by leaving Alepo to get security.
However, eventhough she had moved, she did not feel secured as she expected.Her new city was gradually crowded by many refugees.Mother became uncomfortable, so that she took on another strategy, an inaction.

Character of Susan
Susan was the only daughter in the family.While she was a woman, Susan was the only character who took on many strategies to deal with the conflict against the party.Her first strategy was contending.She spit on her mother who could not accept reality and make a change.

‫بقــوة‬ ‫عليهــا‬ ‫تبصــق‬ ‫يك‬ ‫طويلــة‬ ‫ســنوات‬ ‫سوســن‬ ‫تنتظــر‬ ‫مل‬ ‫األبــد‬ ‫إىل‬ ‫بهــا‬ ‫وســيلحق‬ ‫يرتكهــا‬ ‫لــن‬ ‫العــار‬ ‫بــأن‬ ‫وتخربهــا‬
'Susan cannot resist not to spit on her mother and tell her that the disgrace will never leave her, so that she will live with it forever.'(Khalifah, 2013:39).This contending was not directly related with the party, but this manner brought the mother to realize that she must not be in silence and getting worse because of her fate.In the next stage, however, Susan changed the strategy.She did withdrawing by leaving for UAE with her boyfriend.
There, she had to face a bitter fact; her boyfriend decided to marry his family's choice.Susan then moved to France.But she missed family so that she was going back to Syria.In this stage, instead of contending, Susan chose inaction strategy.

Character of Rosyid
Rosyid was the character who had a close relation with Susan.Even, when he suddenly disappeared, Susan was so mad at his teacher who gave him perverted lesson.To deal with the conflict, Rosyid took on several strategies.The first one was contending with ingratiation technique.Rosyid who had musical capability spent most of his time to play music with Uncle Nizar, her mother's brother.plugged cotton cloth on his ears.He was questioning where the noise came from.He took violin and practiced with his uncle who gathered six musicians and formed a kind of group.They performed in a classical cafe.Uncle Nizar knew every one of the audiences.But, at that night, they performed at al-Kasba cafe.They sang for the drunk people.Rosyid knew no one of them.He was glad that he could get rid of his ability to see too.' (Khalifah, 2013:39).This manner is categorized as contending with ingratiation technique.Going together with some people with the same fate could be a way to gather a similar concern, to form a struggle group which in turn could perform a massive contending.

‫أذنيــه‬ ‫يف‬ ‫يضــع‬ ‫صامتــا،‬
However, Rosyid's strategy was then changed.Rosyid did not feel a significant impact, so he switched to withdrawing strategy, be a bridegroom in conflict area in Iraq.He told us that we should not be worried if he suddenly disappeared.He was in Baghdad.We ignored him and did not believe what he said.That thin Rosyid with a pale face and slimness body, with soul that felt very tired.He felt that the only way to free himself from his depression was the death in Baghdad.(Khalifah, 2013:206).

‫ـداد.‬ ‫بغـ‬ ‫يف‬ ‫ـيكون‬
Unfortunately, before he completed his mission, Rosyid was arrested by opponent's military.Rosyid was sent to jail, where he rethought what he had done.So, when he was released from the jail, Rosyid chose to go back to Syria.It means that he returned to conflict area.At last, Rosyid chose withdrawing strategy, by killing himself.

Character of I
Character of I is the narrator of the story.However, there were not too many strategies done by the I. Even, it seemed that the I did not have initiatives in dealing with the conflict.The only strategy he did was inaction.That conclusion is drawn because the I mostly only followed the decision of the other characters.Just like mother, Rosyid, and Susan, the I only stayed in the refuge.But, unlike Susan and Rosyid who were then withdrew himself by leaving the city, the I devotedly accompanied his mother until she died.
The cristians were afraid the moslems, the small groups afraid of the bigger one.The big group worried about elite's attack.The leaders, religionists, and some other groups were afraid of the leader and his aides.Meanwhile, the leader himself was afraid of his own group.That group would always look for the new ways to agitate among them and preserve their reign.
The first opposition of Baath party was Ikhwanul Muslimin.As said by Porat (2010:2), Ikhwanul Muslimin considered Syria's regime as the enemy of Islam because they were tyrant, corrupt, and heresy.Ikhwanul Muslimin as the opponent of ruling regime carried out several gun resistances.Even, between 1960s to 1970s, Ikhwanul Muslimin's leaders prefered a crossfire than negotiation (Porat, 2010:2).It means that during the first decade of Baath party's reign, contending or resistance was the choice of their opponents.
Interestingly, the issue of religion was so dominant in Ikhawanul Muslimin's struggle upon ruling regime.As said by Talhamy (2009:565-566) there were some of Baath party's leader said that religion should be at museum.So, it was not an odd thing if the regime's law erased the statement that Islam was the official religion of the country.And it was happening several times.The unique thing was, as the respons for the opposition in regards with this religious issue, there were Quran publication with the picture of Syria's president, Hafez al-Assad.That Quran was known as Asad al-Quran (Talhamy, 2009:566).And this seemed like inspiring Khalifah's statement (2013:197) about Quran: ‫ـني‬ ‫بـ‬ ‫ـة،‬ ‫البريـ‬ ‫ـاب‬ ‫كتـ‬ ‫ـل‬ ‫بـ‬ ‫ـط‬ ‫فقـ‬ ‫ـلمني‬ ‫املسـ‬ ‫ـاب‬ ‫كتـ‬ ‫ـس‬ ‫ليـ‬ ‫ـرآن‬ ‫القـ‬ ‫ـة.‬ ‫الروحيـ‬ ‫ـاكلنا‬ ‫ملشـ‬ ‫ـول‬ ‫الحلـ‬ ‫كل‬ ‫ـه‬ ‫آياتـ‬ ‫ـاز‬ ‫وإعجـ‬ ‫ـه‬ ‫صفحاتـ‬ a. Refuge Because of the conflict, some characters of the novel had to move from Batau, even from the country.The father who left his wife and children in Syria can be considered as irresponsible.He chose to leeave his responsibility and go with another woman (Khalifah,2013:45).However, father's choice was also driven by conflict environment factor.There was no hope to think about improvement, but the focus was to defeat the real enemy, that was their brothers from their own country.b.Social deviation In addition to refuge, conflict leads to social deviation.As what happened to Uncle Nizar and Habbah who turned into gay men, Rasyid lost his guidance of life so that decided to be a "bridegroom", and Susan chose to work as a protitute in UAE.Those deviations occured because social control did not function as it should be because of the conflict.

c. Exclusion and Harrasment
The conflict also leads to exclusion.The character of mother was excluded by her friends.As a math teacher, she was actually resepected.But since she refused to participate in the party, she was excluded by her friends.Meanwhile, Habbah who was also refused to join ruling party was abused by party's sympathizers.She was undressed, eventhough by the women.

CONCLUSION
All incidents happened to the family of LSMHM seem to be the expression of the writer upon the consequences he gets as a Syrian.There are several strategies performed by the characters in dealing with conflict, i.e contending, withdrawing, and inaction.Two other strategies, i.e. problem solving and yielding, are not choosen by all characters.The contending done by Susan, Mr Jan, and Rosyid seems to be the expression of the writer upon what was done by Ikhwanul Muslimin.Opposition in the form of withdrawing is done by the mother, Emilia, and Isa Abdul Masih.Those three characters are leaving Aleppo city to live in another city, or even another country.In fact, Syrian people, also choose withdrawing strategy by migrating to other countries.Meanwhile, inaction strategy is chosen by the character of I.This is a depiction of what the majority of Syrian people do in dealing with the conflict between the reign and the opposition.This conflict leads to refuge, social deviation, sexual harrasment, and also exclusion.
The significance which can be concluded by reading the conflict occured in LSMHM is that a ruler should prioritize the peaceful and sympathetic measures to perform their program and leadership.No matter how strong the agitation is, shutting off the chances for the people to express themselves would only be a time bomb that can explode anytime.As the result, the previously planned order and advancement become collapsed and failed.The religion should always be a consideration in making decisions, particularly when the society was the religious one.Religion seems to be a potent issue to be agitated.
Conflict possibly occur anywhere.However, the best way to deal with it is through discussion.Trying to sit together in a same position, no party should consider themselves higher than the other party.