Arab Nationalism - by Youssef M Choueiri (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

This is a much needed, concise survey of Arab nationalism both as an historical movement and a doctrine. The author identifies the particular characteristics and development of Arab nationalism and provides a wide-ranging history.

From the Back Cover

This concise survey looks at Arab nationalism both as an historical movement and as a doctrine. It guides readers new to the subject through the diverse scholarly views about its origins, nature, and intellectual significance.

The book identifies characteristics of Arab nationalism in the region in recent years, setting them in the context of political, economic, religious and cultural change throughout the Middle East. The author describes four distinct phases in the evolution of Arab nationalist ideas - the cultural, the political, the social and the fourth or current phase, in which both nationalism and democracy have resurfaced in a fresh encounter. He uses these stages as a basis for the discussion of ideology within an historical framework.

Students will appreciate the inclusion of study aids such as a list of dynastic chronologies, biographical entries on key figures, a glossary of unfamiliar terms and a guide to further reading.

Review Quotes

"[Choueiri] provides a wealth of detail based on the writings of al-Miqdadi, Ghurbal ... and many others. Largely expository in style, his book describes what they have to say about the Arab nation and about the political programmes needed to realize its potential. In doing so, he brings out the differences among them and sympathetically assesses the problems many encountered." Times Literary Supplement

"Recommended particularly for university libraries and those interested in political theory and Middle East studies." CHOICE

"Arab Nationalism is a well-written, fact-filled book that constitutes a useful single-volume study of the evolution of Arabism. It is well-suited for readers who have in interest in the international nuances and development of nationalism and for those Middle East history enthusiasts who wish to delve into a more specialized topic." History: Reviews of New Books

About the Author

Youssef Choueiri is Reader in the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies at Exeter University. He is the author of a number of books. His publications include State and Society in Syria and Lebanon, 1919-1990 (1994), and Islamic Fundamentalism (1997).