Issue 143 (2019)

I. Zhukovskyi, Master’s Student

Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine

ORCID: 0000-0002-0853-0618

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17721/1728-2640.2019.143.3

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE IDEA OF ARAB NATIONALISM IN THE WORKS OF SATI' AL-HUSRI

Abstract. The article is dedicated to the influence of Sati’ al-Husri philosophical, political and scientific heritage on the formation of Arab Nationalism and Pan-Arabism movements. The author analyzed main Sati’ al-Husri’s works and noted direct citations and references to his ideology. As a synonym of the European word nation Sati’ al-Husri used Arabic term al-ummah. By this concept he understood common language, culture, believes, state, history and common hopes for the future. His theory of Arab nationalism was formed under the influence of European examples, primarily German and Polish national ideas. He was especially interested in the history of nations divided between several states. Thus, Arabs could claim their national identity without united Arab state.

According to Sati’ al-Husri, Arab nation was formed even before the emergence of Islam and the main features of Arab national identity are Arabic language and common history. Even more, Sati’ al-Husri argued that religious ties are weaker than cultural ones, therefore Islam should not be a core of the Arab nationalism. Such approach allowed him to include non-Muslim Arabs into the Arab nation.

In accordance with the theory of Sati’ al-Husri, Arab identity should be above personal liberty. Anyone should be ready to sacrifice himself for the benefit of national idea: “Patriotism and nationalism are above all”. Rejecting personal freedom, Sati’ al-Husri proposed to impose the Arab identity by force among Arabs with another identity – Syrian or Libyan etc. There should not be any other identity except of Arabian – as states Sati’ al-Husri.

During the reign of Faisal I of Iraq Sati’ al-Husri was holding high offices in the ministry of education. His main goal was to educate patriotic and nationalist feelings among students in purpose of making them faithful to the idea of Arab unity.

In conclusions the author states that nationalist ideas of Sati’ al-Husri were authoritarian and manipulative. Despite the long existence of separate Arab states, the idea of Arab unity still remains relevant.

Key words: Arab nationalism, nation, nationality, Arabic, Arab identity, Sati’ al-Husri.

Received by the editorial board: 03.11.2019

References:

1. al-Husri, S. (1975). What is Nationality? Beirut: Arabic Unity Research Center. [in Arabic].

2. al-Husri, S. (1975). Arabic origin above all! Beirut: Arabic Unity Research Center. [in Arabic].

3. al-Husri, S. (1984). The Views and Discussions about National Consciousness and Nationality. Beirut: Arabic Unity Research Center. [in Arabic].

4. al-Husri, S. (1984). Pages from Recent Past. Beirut: Arabic Unity Research Center. [in Arabic].

5. al-Husri, S. (1985). About Language and Literature and Their Connections with Nation. Beirut: Arabic Unity Research Center. [in Arabic].

6. Tibi, B. (1997). Arab Nationalism: Between Islam and the Nation-State. London: Macmillan Press LTD.

7. Dawisha, A. (2016). Arab Nationalism in the Twentieth Century: From Triumph to Despair. Princeton and Oxford: Princeton University Press.