Browsing by Author "Ali, Haggag"

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Abdelwahab Elmessiri’s Islamic humanism
(SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD, 11/9/2018) Ali, Haggag
Abdelwahab Elmessiri's intellectual journey narrates the story of modern ideologies that have led to the marginalization of divine revelation, giving rise to materialistic worldviews that promise their adherents progress, happiness, and freedom. Elmessiri, however, introduced a critical sociology that underlines the dark side of modernity, stressing that modernity has transformed humankind into a bundle of biological functions, economic needs, contractual relationships, instincts, and sexual drives. The end of utopian ideologies and the rise of globalization have radicalized the situation, which Elmessiri refers to as comprehensive secularism.' Against this background, Elmessiri experienced many moments of illumination, culminating in his advocacy of an Islamic humanism' that sees human life as complex phenomenon permeated with secrets, dualities, and diversities. This review, however, argues that Elmessiri's Islamic humanism is ironically based on humanist Marxism and Western critical sociology.
Culture in (Post) Colonial Egypt
(ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD, 2017) Ali, Haggag
The debate on the future of culture in Egypt was occasioned by a postcolonial moment. That moment, however, did not signal a genuine quest for an alternative paradigm, and the dominant liberal intellectual trend showed a commitment to a Eurocentric cultural model in all walks of life, including government, education, administration and legislation. The most remarkable voice that championed the liberal camp was Taha Husayn (1889--1973), and his outlook is often seen as more revolutionary and rebellious than that of most of his contemporaries. Following Ella Shohat, this essay argues that formal independence has rarely meant the end of First World cultural hegemony, since Egypt's formal independence did not prevent colonial domination of the role of culture
Secularism: from Solidity to Liquidity
(PETER LANG GMBH, 2013) Ali, Haggag
In contemporary Western and Arab cultural critique, secularism as a worldview is believed to have experienced inherent transformations from solid rational materialism (the emphasis on reason, science, progress, emancipation, industrialization, and nation building) to liquid non-rational materialism (the celebration of the body, sex, global markets and consumption). This paper explores the arguments of both Zygmunt Bauman and Abdelwahab Elmessiri who advocate this thesis in the light of the major manifestations of these transformations.