An Introduction to Modern Arab Culture

An Introduction to Modern Arab Culture exposes readers to fundamental characteristics of the Arab people, their culture, and their society.

Over the course of 13 chapters, readers learn about the emergence and influence of Islam in Arab culture, religious and ethnic minorities within the Arab world, the critical role of family in Arab life, and the origin and evolution of the Arabic language. Dedicated chapters provide an introduction to the religion of Islam and the Qur’an, and an exploration of Islamic communities throughout the ages. Additional chapters explore Arab poetry, literature, music, values, and thought, revealing the impact of major artworks and their creators on Arab life and tradition. The final chapters address the Arab Spring, the ongoing Syrian refugee crisis, and contemporary challenges and opportunities.

An Introduction to Modern Arab Culture introduces readers to aspects of Arab culture while demonstrating how these facets intertwine to create a unique tapestry of identity, experience, and history. The book is well suited to courses in Middle East culture and history, politics, thought, literature, religion, and language, and courses in sociology, anthropology, and cultural studies.

A Note from the Author in Light of Current World Events in Palestine and Teaching from An Introduction to Modern Arab Culture:

"I am very pleased that there is increased focus on Palestine in light of the disaster unfolding in Gaza. While there is no specific chapter on Palestine in my book, or any other Arab country (with the exception of the chapter on Syria with the focus on Syrian refugees), below are a few points that might be useful to instructors:

-The book is a survey of the culture of the Arab World, which stretches from Morocco to Oman, and includes examples from the various sub-regions and countries. At the same time, the book does include significant discussion of Palestine, and examples of Palestinian writers, poets, and cultural figures, within the cultural context of the entire Arab world.
-While the book does not include a chapter on Palestine, the Palestinian issue is included and discussed as a central matter in modern Arab history. Similarly, the book does not include a chapter on Iraq, yet the Iraq War is discussed in the book; there is no separate chapter on Egypt, yet Egypt’s important role in modern Arab history in discussed, etc.
-The culture of the Arab world was transformed following 1948 (the day of the Palestinians displacement and the loss of the Palestinian State). For example, the war of the 1967 and the war of 1973 (both discussed in the book) were the result of the Palestinian tragedy and the establishment of the State of Israel.
-After 1948, social, political, and national movements and parties have emerged as direct influence by the Palestinian tragedy.
-The chapter on modern Arabic poetry includes Palestine poetry. Example, pages 167-168.
-The chapter on the Arabic novel reviews the plight of the Palestinian people, Ghassan Kanafani’s novel (Men in the Sun) pages 211-213, and Halim Barakat’s novel (Six Days) pages 216-218.
-As a regional survey, the book includes background which illuminates how the issue of Palestine shaped and impacted contemporary Arab culture since 1948, particularly the chapter on Modern Arab Thought. Arab nationalism, as well as social, cultural, and political trends, were all deeply impacted by the situation in Palestine during the twentieth century. -Understanding the ongoing war in Palestine and Gaza is not isolated from the background provided in the book, and it falls within context of the Arab world’s modern cultural and political history since the Israeli occupation of Palestine in 1948."