Sectarianism Without Sects

Azmi Bishara, Chris Hitchcock

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English

C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd
27 May 2021

Middle Eastern history; Religion & beliefs; Islam

This volume analyses the transformation of social sectarianism into political sectarianism across the Arab world. Using a framework of social theories and socio-historical analysis, the book distinguishes between 'ta'ifa', or 'sect', and modern 'ta'ifiyya', 'sectarianism', arguing that sectarianism itself produces 'imaginary sects'. It charts and explains the evolution of these phenomena and their development in Arab and Islamic history, as distinct from other concepts used to study religious groups within Western contexts.

Bishara documents the role played by internal and external factors and rivalries among political elites in the formulation of sectarian identity, citing both historical and contemporary models. He contends that sectarianism does not derive from sect, but rather that sectarianism resurrects the sect in the collective consciousness and reproduces it as an imagined community under modern political and historical conditions.

'Sectarianism Without Sects' is a vital resource for engaging with the sectarian crisis in the Arab world. It provides a detailed historical background to the emergence of sect in the region, as well as a complex theoretical exploration of how social identities have assumed political significance in the struggle for power over the state.

By: Azmi Bishara
Translated by: Chris Hitchcock
Imprint: C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 216mm, Width: 138mm,
ISBN: 9781787383210
ISBN 10: 1787383210
Pages: 320
Publication Date: 27 May 2021
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Azmi Bishara is General Director of the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, and the author of numerous works on political thought, social theory and philosophy. His most influential in Arabic include 'Civil Society: A Critical Contribution'; 'The Arab Question'; and 'Religion and Secularism in a Historical Context'.

Reviews for Sectarianism Without Sects

'A deep dive into the complex dynamics that produced political sectarianism, and consequently sects, in the Arab world. Filled with rich comparative insights and sensitive critical engagement with the literature on sectarianism, Bishara's book makes a passionate call to build states anchored on the principle of equal democratic citizenship.' -- Bassel F. Salloukh, Associate Professor of Political Science, Lebanese American University 'Azmi Bishara offers a wide-ranging treatise on ideas of sectarianism within political life, transcending the Middle East. Philosophically rich, ambitious and intellectually challenging, this book will come to be regarded as one of the seminal texts in the canon of literature on sectarianism.' -- Simon Mabon, Professor of Politics, Philosophy and Religion, Lancaster University