Ameen Rihani was a pioneering Arab-American writer and activist, a leading figure in the development of the 'mahjar' literary movement and the most prominent Arab humanist intellectual of the twentieth century. Undertaking a comprehensive and critical reading of Rihani's Arabic and English writings, Nijmeh Hajjar examines the dialectical link between Rihani's life experiences and his ideas and activism. He explores Rihani's secular humanist vision of Arab progress, democracy and social justice, and concern for respectful relations between the Arab world and the West. This fascinating illustration of an Arab-American encounter contributes to post-colonial discourse and provides a balancing counterpoint to the predominant ideological clash of civilizations paradigms.
Author(s): Nijmeh Hajjar
Publisher: Tauris Academic Studies
Year: 2010
Language: English
Pages: 323
Contents......Page 8
Abbreviations......Page 10
Preface......Page 12
Introduction......Page 18
1. Intellectual Formation: Migration, Travels and Life Experience......Page 38
2. Writer and Political Activist......Page 60
3. Progress, Reform and Revolution......Page 86
4. Justice, Freedom, Democracy and Socialism......Page 113
5. Arabs and Ottomans: Reform, Decentralisation and Independence......Page 137
6. Lebanon and Syria: Between Patriotism and Nationalism......Page 162
7. Arab-French Encounter: The French Mandate in Lebanon and Syria......Page 187
8. Arab Nationalism: Ideals and Endeavours......Page 211
Epilogue......Page 249
Notes......Page 266
Index......Page 310
