Age of Coexistence

The Ecumenical Frame and the Making of the Modern Arab World

Age of Coexistence
Ussama Makdisi
RRP:
NZ$ 56.99
Our Price:
NZ$ 45.59
Paperback
h229 x 152mm - 312pg
21 Sep 2021 US
International import eta 10-30 days
9780520385764
Out Of Stock
Currently no stock in-store, stock is sourced to your order
Quantity:
 
 
"Flawless . . . [Makdisi] reminds us of the critical declarations of secularism which existed in the history of the Middle East. "-Robert Fisk, The Independent Today' s headlines paint the Middle East as a collection of war-torn countries and extremist groups consumed by sectarian rage. Ussama Makdisi' s Age of Coexistence reveals a hidden and hopeful story that counters this cliched portrayal. It shows how a region rich with ethnic and religious diversity created a modern culture of coexistence amid Ottoman reformation, European colonialism, and the emergence of nationalism. Moving from the nineteenth century to the present, this groundbreaking book explores, without denial or equivocation, the politics of pluralism during the Ottoman Empire and in the post-Ottoman Arab world. Rather than judging the Arab world as a place of age-old sectarian animosities, Age of Coexistence describes the forging of a complex system of coexistence, what Makdisi calls the "ecumenical frame. " He argues that new forms of antisectarian politics, and some of the most important examples of Muslim-Christian political collaboration, crystallized to make and define the modern Arab world. Despite massive challenges and setbacks, and despite the persistence of colonialism and authoritarianism, this framework for coexistence has endured for nearly a century. It is a reminder that religious diversity does not automatically lead to sectarianism. Instead, as Makdisi demonstrates, people of different faiths, but not necessarily of different political outlooks, have consistently tried to build modern societies that transcend religious and sectarian differences.
"This book is a must read for anyone interested in the Middle East' s present and who might be hopeful for the region' s future. " * Middle East Journal * "Seeking to counter contemporary perceptions of the Middle East as a region riven by sectarian strife, Makdisi examines the ' culture of coexistence' which he believes prevailed in the Ottoman Empire and in the post-Ottoman Arab world, despite its religious diversity. " * Survival: Global Politics and Strategy * "An outstanding study with insight about the agency of Arab intellectuals, thinkers and people at large who, despite twentieth-century local and global violence, persist in struggling for a better world. This is a must- read for all scholars and students of Middle East and cultural studies. " * Arab Studies Quarterly * "A hugely important corrective to widespread stereotypes about relations between Muslims, Christians and Jews before Israel' s creation. " * Peter Beinart * "Beyond the excellent historical work in which Makdisi engages, his profound rewriting of narratives of sectarianism and coexistence will have a great impact on readers' understanding of the modern Middle East. . . . Offers hope for an existence that does not distinguish between Muslim and non-Muslim or Jew and non-Jew but aims to humanize those who have been seen as inferior. " * Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations * "One of the salient contributions of the Age of Coexistence is how Makdisi writes a history that the existing scholarship has either taken for granted or failed to critically examine. . . . Indispensable reading for graduate students entering the field of Middle Eastern history. " * Bustan: The Middle East Book Review * "This is clearly an essential book. . . . There are many lessons to learn from this study with regard to how regions and their peoples, their ethno-religious identities, and their politics are approached, investigated, and narrated. " * Journal of Historical Geography *
Ussama Makdisi is Professor of History and the first Arab-American Educational Foundation Chair of Arab Studies at Rice University. He is author of The Culture of Sectarianism, Artillery of Heaven, and Faith Misplaced.

In stock - for items in stock we aim to dispatch the next business day. For delivery in NZ allow 2-5 business days, with rural taking a wee bit longer.

Locally sourced in NZ - stock comes from a NZ supplier with an approximate delivery of 7-15 business days.

International Imports - stock is imported into NZ, depending on air or sea shipping option from the international supplier stock can take 10-30 working days to arrive into NZ. 

Pre-order Titles - delivery will vary depending on where the title is published, if local stock is available in NZ then 5-7 business days, for international imports it can be 10-30 business days. In all cases we will access the quickest supply option.

Delivery Packaging - we ship all items in cardboard sleeves or by box with either packing paper or corn starch chips. (We avoid using plastics bubble bags)

Tracking - Orders are delivered by track and trace courier and are fully insured, tracking information will be sent by email once dispatched.

View our full Order & Delivery information