Synopses & Reviews
In a collection of articles originally published between 1995 and 2011 in Cairo's
Al-Ahram Weekly and
Ahram Online (as well as in the
Guardian, and on Salon.com), Egyptian journalist Hani Shukrallah examines his own culture and society during what he terms "a tempestuous period of history for the region and for its relations with the rest of the world." He makes unflinching observations and asks difficult questions in his attempts to reveal underlying truths about democracy, human development, regional power relations, and the demonization of Arabs and Muslims in the west.
Why is it that democracy's "winds of change" can roam the globe, but as soon as they hit Arab shores they turn into the mildest breeze? How is it that one of the least successful regions of the world in terms of human and technological development is able to put itself forward to be framed as the greatest source of threat to international peace and security in a post-Cold War world? And while the American empire might well need a "demonic other" to renew itself, why were Arabs and Muslims such willing volunteers to play the role of demon?
Hani Shukrallah does not provide ready answers, but merely suggests ways of reexamining our reality and the world around us that may help point the way toward solutions.
Review
"The book's collection of articles is essentially a perceptive window on a decade of great importance for the world that happened to focus a great deal on the Middle East. There is good variety among the topics, and the pieces are unfailingly smart, informed, and edgy. Shukrallah's voice is an important and distinctive one and here he is commenting on momentous events for his country, the region, and the world. An important and distinctive writer in the Arab world, he combines a strong narrative voice, a command of history and current events, and a cosmopolitan Cairo perspective to achieve this."Scott MacLeod, professor of practice in the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at the American University in Cairo, longtime foreign correspondent for TIME Magazine, and editor of The Cairo Review of Global Affairs
"In the coming years, Egypt is faced with the challenge of reforming the Arabic world, or letting the theocratic nature of it continue on. Egypt, the Arabs, and the World discusses history in the making, following the Egyptian revolution and other risings in the termed Arab Spring of 2011. Discusses the potential of democracy in the west, author Hani Shukrallah also discusses the perceptions of the west and their impact on the proceedings in this tumultuous period. Egypt, the Arabs, and the World is a scholarly and much needed break down of this curious period of history, very much recommended reading."Midwest Book Review
"Egyptian journalist Shukrallah collects columns written (mostly for the state-owned al Ahram Weekly) during the late 1990s through to the early stages of the Egyptian uprising of 2011. Shukrallah, who hails protesters of Tahrir Square for their overthrow of Hosni Mubarak at the opening of the book, ranges across a broad swath of mostly political topics concerning Egypt, the broader Arab world, and their interactions with global capitalism and empire. Shukrallah's perspective can generally be characterized as secular left and, to a certain extent, pan-Arab nationalist (even if he evidences some significant disappointment and disillusionment in the achievements to date of pan-Arabism)."Reference and Research Book News
Synopsis
In a collection of articles originally published between 1995 and 2011 in Cairo's
Al-Ahram Weekly and Ahram Online (as well as in
The Guardian and on Salon.com), Egyptian journalist Hani Shukrallah examines his own culture and society during what he terms "a tempestuous period of history for the region and for its relations with the rest of the world." He makes unflinching observations and asks difficult questions in his attempts to reveal underlying truths about democracy, human development, regional power relations, and the demonization of Arabs and Muslims in the west.
While most of the articles in this collection were written in what Shukrallah describes as the Arabs' "age of ugly choices," it ends on a high note: the Egyptian Revolution and the promise of a long-awaited Arab spring. In a 7000-word introduction, Shukrallah reexamines the period in question from the perspective of the Revolution, which he admits took him completely by surprise. An epilog includes a collection of articles written on the very eve of the Egyptian Revolution and as it was taking place.
About the Author
Hani Shukrallah is the founding editor of Ahram Online, the Cairo-based English-language news portal, and the executive director of the Heikal Foundation for Arab Journalism. He has written and published widely on politics and current events for numerous publications, including
Al-Ahram Weekly, the
Guardian, and
Al-Hayat Table of Contents
Introduction
Civilization in caricature
Our culture ourselves
Empire and its demons
Palestine's infinite processes
The Samson fiasco
Yet again, a critique of Arab reason
Egypt: elusive spring, enduring autumn