Encounters with Modernity in the Arab World

Rabbat, Nasser O. Encounters with Modernity in the Arab World. [West Haven, Connecticut]: Yale Law School, [2014]. 28 pp. Stapled pamphlet. Near fine. Internally clean. $15. * The paper analyzes how the Arab world has defined "the modern" through interactions with external powers and internal social shifts since the 19th century. Rabbat identifies three distinct phases: Cosmopolitan Phase: This early phase, beginning in the 19th century with increased interaction with Europe, focused on the vibrant, multicultural urban centers of the Levant and Egypt. Nationalist Phase: This period saw a shift toward the strong ideal of a unified, supranational pan-Arab identity, which ultimately struggled to resolve underlying socioeconomic issues. Present Day Phase: The current stage is characterized by a mix of religiously-imbued politics and neoliberal capitalism, most visible in the wealthy Gulf states. The Dallah Al-Baraka Lectures on Islamic Law and Civilization, November 11, 2014.