"Liberalism in the Arab History of Thought" is part of the successful series "Liberal Texts" which the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty (FNF) publishes in cooperation with Mahrousa Publishers in Cairo. The 180-page book edited by German scholar Clemens Recker presents some of the most prominent historic thinkers of the Arab world and their ideas on freedom, the rule of law, market economy, secularism, democracy and women’s rights. The editor’s main argument is that these texts clearly show that liberalism is not alien to the Arab world.

Far from being only a contemporary political project, the idea of an Arab liberalism has deep roots in the region's history of thought and was once prevalent in the public discourse. The Arab Nahda of the 19th century embarked upon a reformist path that carried many liberal ideas, elaborated by Arab intellectuals and thinkers. Aiming to liberate their societies from foreign and domestic despotisms, Arab liberals have advocated the supremacy of freedom as both an end in itself and a way to modernize their countries.

This book presents some of the most prominent historic liberal thinkers of the Arab world and their ideas on freedom, rule of law, market economy, secularism, democracy and women's rights and thus clearly shows that the concept of liberalism is not alien to the Arab world, but has been dealt with by some of the regions finest minds and most accomplished writers.

The distinguished reader will notice the different currents of liberalism in Arab history of thought and the variety of ideas brought forward by patriots who wanted to give their countries the best there is - freedom.


Full online text here