Liberalism in the history of Arab thought, author: Clémence Ricker

Apart from being just a contemporary political project, the idea of Arab liberalism has its roots in the region's intellectual history, and it was even prevalent before within the public discourse. The Arab Renaissance in the nineteenth century embarked on a reformist path carrying many liberal ideas shaped by Arab thinkers and intellectuals. In pursuit of freeing their societies from despotic tyranny and advocating for the sovereignty of freedom as an end in itself and a means to modernize their countries, this book presents some of the most important liberal thinkers in the Arab world and their ideas about freedom, the rule of law, market economy, secularism, democracy, and women's rights. It thus clarifies the concept that liberalism is not strange to the Arab world, but rather a concept addressed by some of the most brilliant minds and famous writers. Number of pages: 191