Arab Awakening and Islamic Revival : The Politics of Ideas in the Middle East

Over the past decade, the political ground beneath the Middle East has shifted. Arab nationalism the political orthodoxy for most of this century has lost its grip on the imagination and allegiance of a new generation. At the same time, Islam as an ideology has spread across the region, and "Islamists" bid to capture the center of politics. Most Western scholars and experts once hailed the redemptive power of Arabism. Arab Awakening and Islamic Revival is a critical assessment of the contradictions of Arab nationalism and Islamic fundamentalism, and the misrepresentation of both in the West. The first part of the book argues that Arab nationalism--the so-called Arab awakening--bore within it the seeds of its own failure. Arabism as an idea drew upon foreign sources and resources. Even as it claimed to liberate the Arabs from imperialism it deepened intellectual dependence upon the West's own romanticism and radicalism. Ultimately, Arab nationalism became a force of oppression rather than liberation, and a mirror image of the imperialism it defied. Kramer's essays together form the only chronological telling and the at fully documented postmortem of Arabism. The second part of the book examines the similar failings of Islamism, whose ideas are Islamic reworkings of Western ideological radicalism. Its effect has been to give new life to old rationales for oppression, authoritarianism, and sectarian division. Arab Awakening and Islamic Revival provides an alternative view of a century of Middle Eastern history. As the region moves fitfully past ideology, Kramer's perspective is more compelling than at any time in the past-in Western academe no less than among many in the Middle. This book will be of interest to sociologists, political scientists, economists, and Middle East specialists. "The triumph of the Bolsheviks in the Russian Civil War was the first great crack in the system of international relations established by the victorious Allies. The presence of a powerful anti-Western Soviet regime not only undermined the liberal values binding the signatories and member states of the Versailles Treaty and the League of Nations, but also helped to stimulate the rise of aggressive fascist dictatorships in Germany and Italy. Consequently, the failure of the Allies to intervene effectively against the Bolsheviks helped pave the way for both World War II and the human catastrophe of Soviet totalitarianism. Stillborn Crusade is a reinterpretation of the causes and consequences of that failure." "In sharp contrast with previous researchers, Ilya Somin argues that the West's failure resulted not from constraints limiting the options of policymakers, but from ideological misconceptions, particularly those flowing from the "liberal" and "realist" theories of international politics. Against these views, Somin sets the position of Winston Churchill, who repeatedly and unsuccessfully urged decisive action when the Soviet regime was militarily vulnerable. As a consequence of British and American policy failures, the entire course of European and world history was radically altered for the worse." "Stillborn Crusade also considers why earlier scholars, most notably George F. Kennan and William Appleman Williams, have ignored the issues raised here, even though they and others have not hesitated to criticize Western leaders for similar errors in other instances, especially in the case of Nazi Germany. Somin links the errors of 1918-20 to broader issues relating to the morality, feasibility, and desirability of Western, especially American, intervention in foreign civil conflicts. As a volume with important lessons for our own time, Stillborn Crusade will be of interest to historians, political scientists, and foreign policy analysts."--Jacket "Over the past decade, the political ground beneath the Middle East has shifted. Arab nationalism the political orthodoxy for most of this century has lost its grip on the imagination and allegiance of a new generation. At the same time, Islam as an ideology has spread across the region, and "Islamists" bid to capture the center of politics. Most Western scholars and experts once hailed the redemptive power of Arabism. Arab Awakening and Islamic Revival is a critical assessment of the contradictions of Arab nationalism and Islamic fundamentalism, and the misrepresentation of both in the West. The first part of the book argues that Arab nationalism--the so-called Arab awakening--bore within it the seeds of its own failure. Arabism as an idea drew upon foreign sources and resources. Even as it claimed to liberate the Arabs from imperialism it deepened intellectual dependence upon the West's own romanticism and radicalism. Ultimately, Arab nationalism became a force of oppression rather than liberation, and a mirror image of the imperialism it defied. Kramer's essays together form the only chronological telling and the at fully documented postmortem of Arabism. The second part of the book examines the similar failings of Islamism, whose ideas are Islamic reworkings of Western ideological radicalism. Its effect has been to give new life to old rationales for oppression, authoritarianism, and sectarian division. Arab Awakening and Islamic Revival provides an alternative view of a century of Middle Eastern history. As the region moves fitfully past ideology, Kramer's perspective is more compelling than at any time in the past-in Western academe no less than among many in the Middle. This book will be of interest to sociologists, political scientists, economists, and Middle East specialists."--Provided by publisher

over The Past Decade, The Political Ground Beneath The Middle East Has Shifted. Arab Nationalism The Political Orthodoxy For Most Of This Century Has Lost Its Grip On The Imagination And Allegiance Of A New Generation. At The Same Time, Islam As An Ideology Has Spread Across The Region, And Islamists Bid To Capture The Center Of Politics. Most Western Scholars And Experts Once Hailed The Redemptive Power Of Arabism. Arab Awakening And Islamic Revival Is A Critical Assessment Of The Contradictions Of Arab Nationalism And Islamic Fundamentalism, And The Misrepresentation Of Both In The West. The First Part Of The Book Argues That Arab Nationalism-the So-called Arab Awakening-bore Within It The Seeds Of Its Own Failure. Arabism As An Idea Drew Upon Foreign Sources And Resources. Even As It Claimed To Liberate The Arabs From Imperialism It Deepened Intellectual Dependence Upon The West's Own Romanticism And Radicalism. Ultimately, Arab Nationalism Became A Force Of Oppression Rather Than Liberation, And A Mirror Image Of The Imperialism It Defied. Kramer's Essays Together Form The Only Chronological Telling And The At Fully Documented Postmortem Of Arabism. The Second Part Of The Book Examines The Similar Failings Of Islamism, Whose Ideas Are Islamic Reworkings Of Western Ideological Radicalism. Its Effect Has Been To Give New Life To Old Rationales For Oppression, Authoritarianism, And Sectarian Division. Arab Awakening And Islamic Revival Provides An Alternative View Of A Century Of Middle Eastern History. As The Region Moves Fitfully Past Ideology, Kramer's Perspective Is More Compelling Than At Any Time In The Past-in Western Academe No Less Than Among Many In The Middle. This Book Will Be Of Interest To Sociologists, Political Scientists, Economists, And Middle East Specialists.

Over the past decade, the political ground beneath the Middle East has shifted. Arab nationalism, the political orthodoxy for most of this century, has lost its grip on the imagination and allegiance of a new generation. At the same time, Islam as an ideology has spread across the region, and "Islamists" bid to capture the center of politics. Most Western scholars and experts once hailed the redemptive power of Arabism. Now they welcome the advent of "Islamism" as a new stage of self-awareness and liberation. Arab Awakening and Islamic Revival is a critical assessment of the contradictions of Arab nationalism and Islamic fundamentalism, and the misrepresentation of both in the West. . The first part of the book argues that Arab nationalism - the so-called Arab awakening - bore within it the seeds of its own failure. Arabism as an idea drew upon foreign sources and resources. Even as Arabism claimed to liberate the Arabs from imperialism, it deepened intellectual dependence upon the West's own romanticism and radicalism. Ultimately, Arab nationalism became a force of oppression rather than liberation, and a mirror image of the imperialism it defied. Initially published separately, Kramer's essays together form the only chronological telling and the first fully documented postmortem of Arabism. The second part of the book examines the similar failings of Islamism, whose ideas are Islamic reworkings of Western ideological radicalism. Its effect has been to give new life to old rationales for oppression, authoritarianism, and sectarian division. Cover -- Half Title -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Contents -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- Part I: Arabism and Friends -- 1. Arab Nationalism: Mistaken Identity -- 2. Arab Pen, English Purse: John Sabunji and Wilfrid Scawen Blunt -- 3. Arabistik and Arabism: The Passions of Martin Hartmann -- 4. The Sharifian Propaganda of Eugène Jung -- 5. The Arab Nation of Shakib Arslan -- 6. Ambition, Arabism, and George Antonius -- 7. Prisoner of Love: Jean Genet and Palestine -- 8. America's Arabists -- Part II: Islamism and the West -- 9. "Islam is the Power of the Future" -- 10. Khomeini's Messengers in Mecca -- 11. Syria's Alawis and Shi'ism -- 12. Hizbullah: The Calculus of Jihad -- 13. Sacrifice and "Self-Martyrdom" in Shi'ite Lebanon -- 14. France Held Hostage -- 15. Islam and the West (including Manhattan) -- 16. Islam vs. Democracy -- Conclusion -- Index Over the past decade, the political ground beneath the Middle East has shifted. Arab nationalism the political orthodoxy for most of this century has lost its grip on the imagination and allegiance of a new generation. At the same time, Islam as an ideology has spread across the region, and Islamists bid to capture the center of politics. *Arab Awakening and Islamic Revival*, a collection of essays by Middle East historian Martin Kramer, is a critical assessment of the contradictions of Arab nationalism and Islamic fundamentalism, and the misrepresentation of both in the West.