The Making of Modern Libya: State Formation, Colonization, and Resistance, 1830-1932 (Soci Econ Hist Mid East (Dis)) - Softcover

Ahmida, Ali Abdullatif

Softcover

ISBN 10: 079141762X ISBN 13: 9780791417621

Publisher: State University of New York Press, 1994

Synopsis

This book analyzes the social, cultural, and historical background of modern Libya from the early nineteenth century through the end of the armed anticolonial resistance. Ahmida challenges Eurocentric theories of social change that ignore the internal dynamics of native social history. Among other things, he shows that Sufi Islam, tribal military organization, and oral traditions were crucial in the fight against colonialism. The political and cultural legacy of the resistance has been powerful, strengthening Libyan nationalism and leading to the revival of strong attachments to Islam and the clan. The memory of this period has not yet faded, and appreciation of this background is essential to understanding present-day Libya.

About this title

About the Author

Ali Abdullatif Ahmida is Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Politics at Whitman College.

Review

“The question of civil society in the Islamic world and the relationship of state to society in the pre-colonial era is coming to be a central concern in the field. I think this book targets very well many concerns both in English-language and Arabic-language historiography about what we know of the ‘pre-modern’ or at least pre-colonial world. This book has an important contribution to make to contemporary academic and political discourse.” ― Ellis Goldberg, University of Washington

“The scholarship is very good. Few scholars are able to use Arabic, French, English, and Italian at such a level. A second major plus is the way the author seeks to integrate the political history of Libya with its social and economic history, and to use this as a framework for discussing Libyan anti-colonial resistance over the whole period, 1830-1932. There is no other work which has this range and ambition, and this will make a useful addition to our knowledge of modern Libyan history.” ― Edmund Burke III, University of California, Santa Cruz

Edition details

• Publisher: State University of New York Press
• Publication date: 1994
• ISBN 10: 079141762X
• ISBN 13: 9780791417621
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 222