When Myths Fail: Alawites Between Historical Persecution and Identity Escape

This study examines the emergence of alternative identity narratives among ʿAlawī Nuṣayrī communities in contexts of extreme violence. It argues that certain reinterpretations of identity function as mechanisms of escape rather than historically grounded analysis. The article explores the limits of such narratives and emphasizes the importance of historical clarity in the face of sectarian violence. This article forms part of the ongoing research project “Alawites: A Story Yet Unfinished , which seeks to reinterpret Alawite identity through philosophical, historical, and spiritual perspectives while recovering collective memory from narrow political narratives toward broader intellectual horizons. This article is part of the research project , Alawites: A Story Yet Unfinished (Arabic: العلويون: سرد لم يكتمل) by Helin Abbas. Note: The term “Alawites” is used in the title for accessibility, while the study adopts the more precise term “ʿAlawī Nuṣayrī” throughout the text.