Arabic Thought in the Liberal Age 1798–1939

This book is a most comprehensive study of the modernizing trend of political and social thought in the Arab Middle East.

Albert Hourani (Author)

9780521274234, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 23 June 1983

418 pages
21.3 x 13.7 x 2.5 cm, 0.52 kg

'This classic work is as fresh and interesting as when it was first published thirty years ago. It continues to command the field.' Charles Issawi, Princeton University

Arabic Thought in the Liberal Age 1798–1939 is the most comprehensive study of the modernizing trend of political and social thought in the Arab Middle East. Albert Hourani studies the way in which ideas about politics and society changed during the nineteenth and the first half of the twentieth centuries, in response to the expanding influence of Europe. His main attention is given to the movement of ideas in Egypt and Lebanon. He shows how two streams of thought, the one aiming to restate the social principles of Islam, and the other to justify the separation of religion from politics, flowed into each other to create the Egyptian and Arab nationalisms of the present century. The last chapter of the book surveys the main tendencies of thought in the post-war years. Since its publication in 1962, this book has been regarded as a modern classic of interpretation. It was reissued by the Cambridge University Press in 1983 and has subsequently sold over 8000 copies.

Preface to the 1983 reissue
Notes on transliteration and references
1. The Islamic state
2. The Ottoman empire
3. First views of Europe
4. The first generation: Tahtawi, Khayr Al-Din and Bustani
5. Jamal Al-Din Al-afghani
6. Muhammad 'Abduh
7. 'Abduh's Egyptian disciples: Islam and modern civilization
8. Egyptian nationalism
9. Rashid Rida
10. Christian secularists: Shumayyil and Antun
11. Arab nationalism
12. Taha Husayn
13. Epilogue: past and future
Select bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: History of ideas [JFCX]