Ethnic conflict and state-building in the Arab world

International Social Science Journal

Volumn 50, Issue 156, 1998, Pages 229-242

  Ibrahim, Saad Eddin ^a,b,c,d  

^a CAIRO UNIVERSITY   (Egypt)

^b UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON   (United States)

^c AMERICAN UNIVERSITY   (United States)

^d Ibn Khaldoun Ctr for Devmt Studies   (Egypt)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 0011039304     PISSN: 00208701     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1111/1468-2451.00126     Document Type: Article

References (51)

1. For a recent overview of worldwide ethnic conflicts, see L. Diamond and M. F. Plattner (eds), Nationalism, Ethnic Conflict, and Democracy, Baltimore and London: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1994.
2. For details and documentation see Saad Eddin Ibrahim, Sects, Ethnicity, and Minority Groups in the Arab World (1994) (in Arabic), Cairo: Ibn Khaldoun Center, pp. 15-18, and pp. 225-290, pp. 323-69, and pp. 601-29.
3. Ibid., pp. 725-49.
4. Soc also Diamond and Plattner's definition in Nationalism, Ethnic Conflict, op.cit, p. xvii; F. Fukuyama, 'The End of History', The National Interest, no. 16 (summer 1989), pp. 3-18, and The End of History and the Last Man, New York: Free Press, 1992, p. 201.
5. Soc also Diamond and Plattner's definition in Nationalism, Ethnic Conflict, op.cit, p. xvii; F. Fukuyama, 'The End of History', The National Interest, no. 16 (summer 1989), pp. 3-18, and The End of History and the Last Man, New York: Free Press, 1992, p. 201.
6. Soc also Diamond and Plattner's definition in Nationalism, Ethnic Conflict, op.cit, p. xvii; F. Fukuyama, 'The End of History', The National Interest, no. 16 (summer 1989), pp. 3-18, and The End of History and the Last Man, New York: Free Press, 1992, p. 201.
7. For full account of civil armed conflicts in Iraq, Sudan, and Lebanon, see Saad Eddin Ibrahim, Sects, Ethnicity and Minority Groups, op.cit, pp. 225-90, pp. 323-60, and pp. 601-29.
8. Ibid. pp. 14-15; and A.H. Hourani, Minorities in the Arab World, London: Oxford University Press, 1947.
9. Ibid. pp. 14-15; and A.H. Hourani, Minorities in the Arab World, London: Oxford University Press, 1947.
10. A full debate has raged among Arab intellectuals over a proposed conference on the 'UN Declaration on Minorities' Rights and Peoples of the Arab World and the Middle-East' that was to be held in Cairo, 12-14 May, 1994. The prominent Egyptian writer and journalist, M.H. Haikal led the charge against the conference in an article 'The Copts are an Integral Part of the National Mass', Al-Ahram, 20 April 1994. Some 240 Arab intellectuals joined the debate between April and September 1994. Two-thirds of the debaters denied the existence of, or belittled, the minorities issue in the Arab world. See Civil Society and Democratic Transformation in the Arab World (CSDTAW) Newsletter, April-October 1994. See also a full documentation in Religious and Ethnic Crimps in the Arab World, Second Annual Report (Arabic-English), (Cairo: Ibn Khaldoun Center for Development Studies), 1995.
11. A full debate has raged among Arab intellectuals over a proposed conference on the 'UN Declaration on Minorities' Rights and Peoples of the Arab World and the Middle-East' that was to be held in Cairo, 12-14 May, 1994. The prominent Egyptian writer and journalist, M.H. Haikal led the charge against the conference in an article 'The Copts are an Integral Part of the National Mass', Al-Ahram, 20 April 1994. Some 240 Arab intellectuals joined the debate between April and September 1994. Two-thirds of the debaters denied the existence of, or belittled, the minorities issue in the Arab world. See Civil Society and Democratic Transformation in the Arab World (CSDTAW) Newsletter, April-October 1994. See also a full documentation in Religious and Ethnic Crimps in the Arab World, Second Annual Report (Arabic-English), (Cairo: Ibn Khaldoun Center for Development Studies), 1995.
12. A full debate has raged among Arab intellectuals over a proposed conference on the 'UN Declaration on Minorities' Rights and Peoples of the Arab World and the Middle-East' that was to be held in Cairo, 12-14 May, 1994. The prominent Egyptian writer and journalist, M.H. Haikal led the charge against the conference in an article 'The Copts are an Integral Part of the National Mass', Al-Ahram, 20 April 1994. Some 240 Arab intellectuals joined the debate between April and September 1994. Two-thirds of the debaters denied the existence of, or belittled, the minorities issue in the Arab world. See Civil Society and Democratic Transformation in the Arab World (CSDTAW) Newsletter, April-October 1994. See also a full documentation in Religious and Ethnic Crimps in the Arab World, Second Annual Report (Arabic-English), (Cairo: Ibn Khaldoun Center for Development Studies), 1995.
13. For an account of socio-political developments see, Saad Eddin Ibrahim, The Future of Society and State in the Arab World (in Arabic), Amman: The Arab Thought Forum, 1988; M. Hudson, Arab Politics: The Search for Legitimacy, New Haven: Yale University Press, 1980; G. Luciani (ed.), The Arab State, Berkeley: University Press, 1990.
14. For an account of socio-political developments see, Saad Eddin Ibrahim, The Future of Society and State in the Arab World (in Arabic), Amman: The Arab Thought Forum, 1988; M. Hudson, Arab Politics: The Search for Legitimacy, New Haven: Yale University Press, 1980; G. Luciani (ed.), The Arab State, Berkeley: University Press, 1990.
15. For an account of socio-political developments see, Saad Eddin Ibrahim, The Future of Society and State in the Arab World (in Arabic), Amman: The Arab Thought Forum, 1988; M. Hudson, Arab Politics: The Search for Legitimacy, New Haven: Yale University Press, 1980; G. Luciani (ed.), The Arab State, Berkeley: University Press, 1990.
16. See an account of the Turkish-Kurdish issue in R.D. Machurin, The Political Role of Minorities in the Middle East, New York: Praeger, 1979; and on more recent events in southern Turkey and northern Iraq, see Time, 24 April 1995, pp, 50, 51 and Newsweek, 27 March 1995, p. 12.
17. See an account of the Turkish-Kurdish issue in R.D. Machurin, The Political Role of Minorities in the Middle East, New York: Praeger, 1979; and on more recent events in southern Turkey and northern Iraq, see Time, 24 April 1995, pp, 50, 51 and Newsweek, 27 March 1995, p. 12.
18. See an account of the Turkish-Kurdish issue in R.D. Machurin, The Political Role of Minorities in the Middle East, New York: Praeger, 1979; and on more recent events in southern Turkey and northern Iraq, see Time, 24 April 1995, pp, 50, 51 and Newsweek, 27 March 1995, p. 12.
19. G. Corm, Variety of Religions and Regimes: A Comparative Sociological and Legal Study (in Arabic), Beirut: El Nahar Publishing Center, 1979, pp. 196-261; F. Howeidy, Citizens Not Protected (in Arabic), Cairo: Dar El Sherouk, 1990; sec also a debate between Howeidy and this author on this issue in Al-Ahram (Cairo Arabic daily), 14, 21, 28 March, and 4 April 1995.
20. G. Corm, Variety of Religions and Regimes: A Comparative Sociological and Legal Study (in Arabic), Beirut: El Nahar Publishing Center, 1979, pp. 196-261; F. Howeidy, Citizens Not Protected (in Arabic), Cairo: Dar El Sherouk, 1990; sec also a debate between Howeidy and this author on this issue in Al-Ahram (Cairo Arabic daily), 14, 21, 28 March, and 4 April 1995.
21. G. Corm, Variety of Religions and Regimes: A Comparative Sociological and Legal Study (in Arabic), Beirut: El Nahar Publishing Center, 1979, pp. 196-261; F. Howeidy, Citizens Not Protected (in Arabic), Cairo: Dar El Sherouk, 1990; sec also a debate between Howeidy and this author on this issue in Al-Ahram (Cairo Arabic daily), 14, 21, 28 March, and 4 April 1995.
22. J. Megezil, 'Islam and Arab Christianity, Arab Nationalism and Secularism', in The Seminar of Arab Nationalism and Islam, pp. 361-84 (in Arabic); C. Zuraique in his comment on W. Kawthrany, 'The Christians from the System of Sects to the Modern State', in his book The Debate of Arab Christians, p. 75; G. El Shair, 'What arc the Reasons of Susceptibility and What are their Ranges?' in The Debate of Minorities in the Arab East and the Attempts of Israel to Use Them, Amman 12-15/9/1981 (in Arabic).
23. J. Megezil, 'Islam and Arab Christianity, Arab Nationalism and Secularism', in The Seminar of Arab Nationalism and Islam, pp. 361-84 (in Arabic); C. Zuraique in his comment on W. Kawthrany, 'The Christians from the System of Sects to the Modern State', in his book The Debate of Arab Christians, p. 75; G. El Shair, 'What arc the Reasons of Susceptibility and What are their Ranges?' in The Debate of Minorities in the Arab East and the Attempts of Israel to Use Them, Amman 12-15/9/1981 (in Arabic).
24. J. Megezil, 'Islam and Arab Christianity, Arab Nationalism and Secularism', in The Seminar of Arab Nationalism and Islam, pp. 361-84 (in Arabic); C. Zuraique in his comment on W. Kawthrany, 'The Christians from the System of Sects to the Modern State', in his book The Debate of Arab Christians, p. 75; G. El Shair, 'What arc the Reasons of Susceptibility and What are their Ranges?' in The Debate of Minorities in the Arab East and the Attempts of Israel to Use Them, Amman 12-15/9/1981 (in Arabic).
25. See the proceedings of the Constituent Conference of the Al Baath Party as they were narrated in M. Aflaq, For the Cause of Baath, Beirut: El Tali'a Publishing Center, 1978, first part p. 121 (in Arabic); for more information about the Baath's attitude towards Minorities, see M. Dandeshly, The Arab Socialist Baath Party, Part I: Ideology and Political History, Beirut: El Talia Publishing Center, 1979, pp. 92-95; A. Al-Duri, 'The Historical Roots of Arab Nationalism', in N. Hopkins and Saad Eddin Ibrahim (eds), Arab Society, Cairo: American University in Cairo Press, 2nd edn, 1985, pp. 20-35.
26. See the proceedings of the Constituent Conference of the Al Baath Party as they were narrated in M. Aflaq, For the Cause of Baath, Beirut: El Tali'a Publishing Center, 1978, first part p. 121 (in Arabic); for more information about the Baath's attitude towards Minorities, see M. Dandeshly, The Arab Socialist Baath Party, Part I: Ideology and Political History, Beirut: El Talia Publishing Center, 1979, pp. 92-95; A. Al-Duri, 'The Historical Roots of Arab Nationalism', in N. Hopkins and Saad Eddin Ibrahim (eds), Arab Society, Cairo: American University in Cairo Press, 2nd edn, 1985, pp. 20-35.
27. See the proceedings of the Constituent Conference of the Al Baath Party as they were narrated in M. Aflaq, For the Cause of Baath, Beirut: El Tali'a Publishing Center, 1978, first part p. 121 (in Arabic); for more information about the Baath's attitude towards Minorities, see M. Dandeshly, The Arab Socialist Baath Party, Part I: Ideology and Political History, Beirut: El Talia Publishing Center, 1979, pp. 92-95; A. Al-Duri, 'The Historical Roots of Arab Nationalism', in N. Hopkins and Saad Eddin Ibrahim (eds), Arab Society, Cairo: American University in Cairo Press, 2nd edn, 1985, pp. 20-35.
28. See El Saved Yassin and others, Content Analysis of the National Arab Thought, Beirut: the Center of Arab Unity Studies, 1980, p. 52 (in Arabic).
29. See Sati Al Hosary, What is Nationalism?, Beirut: The Center of Arab Unity Studies, 1985 (originally published in 1958), p. 175 (in Arabic).
30. Diamond and Plattner, op.cit, p. xviii.
31. K. Packradon, 'Toward Ethnically Egalitarian Arab Societies', paper submitted to the conference on The UN Declaration on Minorities' Rights and Peoples of the Arab World and the Middle East, Limassol, Cyprus, 12-14 May 1994.
32. 1993 Arab Strategic Report (in Arabic), Cairo: Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, 1994.
33. The Iraqi elite led by Saddam Hussain's clan since 1968, comes from the Arab Sunni Muslim town of Takrit. The Sunni Muslims of Iraq do not exceed 35 per cent of Iraq's total population - compared to over 45 per cent Arab Shi'ite Muslims, and 15 per cent Kurdish Muslims. The Syrian elite led by Hafez al-Assad's clan since the 1970s, comes from a small Alawite Shia'a sect (town of Querdaha) which constitutes no more than 16 per cent of Syria's total population (see tables).
34. See an analysis of recent events in Civil Society and Democratic Transformation in the Arab World (CSDTAW), Newsletter, April - August issues of 1994.
35. Review of constitutional texts and similar documents of Arab Countries in A. Sarhal, Political and Constitutional Systems in Lebanon and the Arab Countries (Beirut: El Baath Publishing Center), 1980 (in Arabic).
36. Ibid.
37. S.E. Ibrahim, Future of Society and State in the Arab World, pp. 400-450.
38. On this topic in regard to the Arab world see the following: K.W. Deutsch, 'Social Mobilization and Political Development', American Political Science Review, Vol. 55, No. 3, September 1961, p. 493, and Nationalism and Social Communication: An Inquiry into the Foundation of Nationality, 2nd edn, Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press, 1966. S.E. Ibrahim, Bridging the Gap Between Decision-Makers and Intellectuals in the Arab World, Amman: the Arab Thought Forum, 1984, pp. 16-32 (in Arabic). D. Lerner, The Passing of Traditional Society: Modernizing the Middle East, Glencoe, Ill: Free Press, 1958. I. Harik, 'The Ethnic Revolution and Political Integration in the Middle East', International Journal of Middle East Studies, Vol. 3, No.3, July 1972, pp. 303, 323. B. Ghalyoum, The Sectarian Issue and the Problem of the Minorities, MMS, 1986, pp. 71-79 (in Arabic).
39. On this topic in regard to the Arab world see the following: K.W. Deutsch, 'Social Mobilization and Political Development', American Political Science Review, Vol. 55, No. 3, September 1961, p. 493, and Nationalism and Social Communication: An Inquiry into the Foundation of Nationality, 2nd edn, Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press, 1966. S.E. Ibrahim, Bridging the Gap Between Decision-Makers and Intellectuals in the Arab World, Amman: the Arab Thought Forum, 1984, pp. 16-32 (in Arabic). D. Lerner, The Passing of Traditional Society: Modernizing the Middle East, Glencoe, Ill: Free Press, 1958. I. Harik, 'The Ethnic Revolution and Political Integration in the Middle East', International Journal of Middle East Studies, Vol. 3, No.3, July 1972, pp. 303, 323. B. Ghalyoum, The Sectarian Issue and the Problem of the Minorities, MMS, 1986, pp. 71-79 (in Arabic).
40. On this topic in regard to the Arab world see the following: K.W. Deutsch, 'Social Mobilization and Political Development', American Political Science Review, Vol. 55, No. 3, September 1961, p. 493, and Nationalism and Social Communication: An Inquiry into the Foundation of Nationality, 2nd edn, Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press, 1966. S.E. Ibrahim, Bridging the Gap Between Decision-Makers and Intellectuals in the Arab World, Amman: the Arab Thought Forum, 1984, pp. 16-32 (in Arabic). D. Lerner, The Passing of Traditional Society: Modernizing the Middle East, Glencoe, Ill: Free Press, 1958. I. Harik, 'The Ethnic Revolution and Political Integration in the Middle East', International Journal of Middle East Studies, Vol. 3, No.3, July 1972, pp. 303, 323. B. Ghalyoum, The Sectarian Issue and the Problem of the Minorities, MMS, 1986, pp. 71-79 (in Arabic).
41. On this topic in regard to the Arab world see the following: K.W. Deutsch, 'Social Mobilization and Political Development', American Political Science Review, Vol. 55, No. 3, September 1961, p. 493, and Nationalism and Social Communication: An Inquiry into the Foundation of Nationality, 2nd edn, Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press, 1966. S.E. Ibrahim, Bridging the Gap Between Decision-Makers and Intellectuals in the Arab World, Amman: the Arab Thought Forum, 1984, pp. 16-32 (in Arabic). D. Lerner, The Passing of Traditional Society: Modernizing the Middle East, Glencoe, Ill: Free Press, 1958. I. Harik, 'The Ethnic Revolution and Political Integration in the Middle East', International Journal of Middle East Studies, Vol. 3, No.3, July 1972, pp. 303, 323. B. Ghalyoum, The Sectarian Issue and the Problem of the Minorities, MMS, 1986, pp. 71-79 (in Arabic).
42. On this topic in regard to the Arab world see the following: K.W. Deutsch, 'Social Mobilization and Political Development', American Political Science Review, Vol. 55, No. 3, September 1961, p. 493, and Nationalism and Social Communication: An Inquiry into the Foundation of Nationality, 2nd edn, Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press, 1966. S.E. Ibrahim, Bridging the Gap Between Decision-Makers and Intellectuals in the Arab World, Amman: the Arab Thought Forum, 1984, pp. 16-32 (in Arabic). D. Lerner, The Passing of Traditional Society: Modernizing the Middle East, Glencoe, Ill: Free Press, 1958. I. Harik, 'The Ethnic Revolution and Political Integration in the Middle East', International Journal of Middle East Studies, Vol. 3, No.3, July 1972, pp. 303, 323. B. Ghalyoum, The Sectarian Issue and the Problem of the Minorities, MMS, 1986, pp. 71-79 (in Arabic).
43. On this topic in regard to the Arab world see the following: K.W. Deutsch, 'Social Mobilization and Political Development', American Political Science Review, Vol. 55, No. 3, September 1961, p. 493, and Nationalism and Social Communication: An Inquiry into the Foundation of Nationality, 2nd edn, Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press, 1966. S.E. Ibrahim, Bridging the Gap Between Decision-Makers and Intellectuals in the Arab World, Amman: the Arab Thought Forum, 1984, pp. 16-32 (in Arabic). D. Lerner, The Passing of Traditional Society: Modernizing the Middle East, Glencoe, Ill: Free Press, 1958. I. Harik, 'The Ethnic Revolution and Political Integration in the Middle East', International Journal of Middle East Studies, Vol. 3, No.3, July 1972, pp. 303, 323. B. Ghalyoum, The Sectarian Issue and the Problem of the Minorities, MMS, 1986, pp. 71-79 (in Arabic).
44. S.E. Ibrahim, Sects, Ethnicity and Minority Groups, op.cit, pp. 735-40.
45. Ibid., pp. 840-60.
46. Ibid., pp. 840-60.
47. See S.E. Ibrahim, 'Civil Society and Prospects of Democratization in the Arab World', in A.R. Norton, Civil Society in the Middle East, Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1995, pp. 27-54.
48. A. Messarra, 'Minority Rights in the Arab Mashrique', in A.A. Naim (ed.), The Cultural Dimensions of Human Rights in the Arab World (in Arabic), Cairo: Ibn Khaldoun Center and S. Al-Sabah, 1993, pp. 427-52.
49. 'The Berbers Demand a Voice', Al-Ahram Weekly, 20 October 1994, p. 5.
50. Ibid.
51. Minorities Concerns in the Arab World, the 1993 Annual Report, Cairo: Ibn Khaldoun Center, 1994.