Liberalism in Twentieth Century Egyptian Thought

The role of Islam in the modern state and the interpretation and implementation of Shari‘a law are widely debated. The concept of Liberalism, as taken from the ideological writings of Ahmad Amin (1886-1954) and Husayn Amin (1932-), offers a unique view on the development and reception of these issues in 20th century Egyptian thought. Makoto Mizutani here assesses the roles and contributions of these influential thinkers, and shows how together they can be seen as representative of the ‘journey of liberalism’ in the contemporary Arab world.

Through their writings, the change in their respective times can be seen, thus presenting a paradigm shift: Ahmad Amin’s Arab-Islamic perspective from the beginning of the 20th century and Husayn Amin’s one nation perspective which emerged in the latter half of the century. Against the backdrop of recent developments in the region, the author places Liberalism against a broader socio-political context, and offers an original perspective – that in understanding the intellectual origins of Liberalism in Egypt, an insight can be gained into the future of contemporary Islamic thought, both within and outside the Arab world. Drawing on historical Arabic source materials and contemporary articles, the author analyses the ideological roots of the struggle towards Arab democratization and argues that, although recent movements appear innovative at first, they really derive from a century-old framework of Arab Islamic political notions and traditions. This book will prove essential reading for students and specialists of Middle Eastern history and politics, and especially to readers grappling to understand the elements of current upheavals in the region.

Makoto Mizutani is an expert on Islamic and Middle Eastern affairs. He has published works in English, Arabic and Japanese. He is Academic Adviser to the Arabic and Islamic Institute in Tokyo, and holds a PhD in Middle East History from the University of Utah, USA.