Description
Book SynopsisBased on research in Arabic and English, this book analyzes US-Arab conflicts over modernization. Challenging assumptions about a 'clash of civilizations', it shows how Americans and Arabs including nationalists, Islamists, and communists debated the Arab future within a shared set of Cold War-era ideas about progress.
Trade Review'Envisioning the Arab Future is noteworthy both in the variety of case studies examined and in the range of sources utilized. It repeatedly demonstrates the degree to which Arabs and Americans often spoke a common language and had a shared vision of 'modernization', and how specific modernizing policies and initiatives were mutually constituted out of Arab-American dialogue. This is a valuable addition to our understanding of the Arab-American relationship in the post-World War II decades.' James Jankowski, University of Colorado Boulder
'Envisioning the Arab Future traces a key source for the social scientists who pioneered the study of 'modernization' in the post-1945 Arab world and beyond, as well as for those who would retell that history now, namely Arab thinkers and politicians themselves. Muslim Brothers, Communists, Baathists, and others all had influential ideas about development. Vivid writing, new findings, thoughtful criticism, and a bold turn in argument: Citino does it all.' Robert Vitalis, University of Pennsylvania
'… brings a host of often unfamiliar Arab voices to a Western audience and contains striking, novel insights on nearly every page.' Salim Yaqub, International Journal of Middle East Studies
Table of ContentsIntroduction. The 'history of the future'; 1. The age of speed; 2. Imperial legacies; 3. City of the future; 4. Yeoman farmers; 5. People's court; 6. New men; 7. Changing course; Conclusion. A better future; Bibliography; Index.
