
The Politics and Poetics of Ameen Rihani
The Humanist Ideology of an Arab-American Intellectual and Activist
- 328 pages
- English
- PDF
- Available on iOS & Android
The Politics and Poetics of Ameen Rihani
The Humanist Ideology of an Arab-American Intellectual and Activist
About this book
Ameen Rihani (1876-1940) was an influential Arab-American thinker, writer and political activist, and was one of the most prominent humanist intellectuals of the twentieth century. He was born in Freike, Lebanon, and emigrated to the United States at the age of 12. He was recognized in his time as a leading figure in the world of Arab-American literature, a pioneer of the mahjar literary movement (Arabic Lebanese migration literature) and of contemporary Arabic prose poetry. A prolific writer, he published nearly 30 books in English alone. In his writing and political activism, Rihani's prime concern was engagement and mutual respect between the Arab world and the West - a concern which bears striking relevance to global affairs today. Undertaking a comprehensive reading of Rihani's Arabic and English published works, including his creative writings, essays, correspondence, and historical and travel books, Nijmeh Hajjar examines the dialectical link between Rihani's life experiences in the Arabworld, Europe and the USA with his ideas and activism. The book highlights Rihani's progressive secular humanist vision, his concerns about the need for Arab societies to achieve
progress, liberal democracy and social justice, and his emphasis upon a mutual respect between the Arab world and the West - particularly the USA, Great Britain and France. This fascinating illustration of an Arab-American encounter contributes to post- and neo-colonial discourse and provides a balancing counterpoint to the predominant ideological 'clash of civilisations' paradigms. The Politics and Poetics of Ameen Rihani furthers our understanding of the Arab-Islamic world and its relationship with the West - which remains one of the most important issues of our times.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Contents
- Abbreviations
- Preface
- Introduction
- 1. Intellectual Formation: Migration, Travels and Life Experience
- 2. Writer and Political Activist
- 3. Progress, Reform and Revolution
- 4. Justice, Freedom, Democracy and Socialism
- 5. Arabs and Ottomans: Reform, Decentralisation and Independence
- 6. Lebanon and Syria: Between Patriotism and Nationalism
- 7. Arab-French Encounter: The French Mandate in Lebanon and Syria
- 8. Arab Nationalism: Ideals and Endeavours
- Epilogue
- Notes
- Index