Contemporary Arab Thought: Cultural Critique in Comparative Perspective

In her new introduction, Kassab reflects on the challenges of reading the contemporary Arab intellectual scene and the transformations that have occurred since 2010. She elucidates the formidable efforts of contemporary Arab thinkers to create sense in the midst of momentous upheavals and identifies the sites of hope and imagination in the midst of confusion and horror.–Leyla Dakhli, French Center for National Research (CNRS)

With unparalleled intellectual generosity and a profound commitment to self-reflection, Kassab masterfully integrates overlooked comparative, feminist, and gender-based approaches to reimagine critique in the aftermath of recent wars and uprisings. Setting new standards for cross-disciplinary scholarship, this book remains a groundbreaking contribution to the field of modern Arab thought.–Zeina G. Halabi, author of The Unmaking of the Arab Intellectual: Prophecy, Exile and the Nation

Fifteen years after its original publication, the Arab world has undergone dramatic and often painful transformations. Yet the book that defined an entire field of study and inspired countless scholars to explore its profound questions still retains its relevance and classic status.–Yoav Di-Capua, The University of Texas at Austin

In a work that has become a truly essential reference worldwide, Kassab masterfully uncovers the ideological and cultural underpinnings of contemporary debates in the Arab space, illuminating them with a comparative perspective that firmly places Arab thinkers on the map of world intellectual history.–Franck Mermier, author of Le livre et la ville: Beyrouth et l’édition arabe