Product Description
Moustapha Safouan, in this courageous and honest book, confronts head-on the problem of Arab despotism, examining it from the point of view of political philosophy, religious argument and linguistic history.
- A ground-breaking book written by the eminent Lacanian psychoanalyst Moustapha Safouan.
- Rejects explanations of Arab despotism which appeal either to imperialism or to notions of Arab culture in favour of an analysis which focuses on the relations between writing and power.
- Investigates the divorce between the classical Arabic which is the medium of education and the diverse vernacular Arabics which are the languages of the streets.
- A tour de force of political philosophy, religious argument and linguistic history.
Book Description
For centuries the dominant image of the Middle East has been one of despotism. Those on the right argue that this despotism is the result of Arab or Islamic culture; those on the left see it as an effect of Imperialism. In this ground breaking book the eminent Egyptian psychoanalyst Moustapha Safouan argues that this endless despotism finds its most important foundation in the divorce between the classical Arabic which is the medium of education and the diverse vernacular Arabics which are the language of the street. Safouan's impassioned argument to his fellow Arabs is that if they wish to realise the potential of their great culture, they must follow the linguistic lead of the European Reformation and develop the currently despised vernaculars. Safouan's magisterial essay is a tour de force of political philosophy, religious argument and linguistic history. It will be required reading for all those interested in the relations between language and culture, religion and politics.
