Review: The Arab Intellectual and Tiananmen Square

Abstract

Book Title: The Arab Intellectual and the Tiananmen Square Syndrome Author: Amro Othman and Marwa Fikry Place of publication: Beruit Date of publication: October 2016 Publisher: Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies No. of pages: 144 The Arab Intellectual and Tiananmen Square by Amro Othman and Mrouwa Fikry provides answers to one of the most controversial questions gripping the Arab world since the outbreak of the Arab Spring. That is: Why did some Arab intellectuals fail to embrace the uprisings of the Arab Spring, particularly when it embodied the people’s right to demand change and freedom, ideals that Arab intellectuals have long defended? The book deals with the problematic relationship between the Arab intellectual and the concept of freedom and democracy, and is framed around key critical questions. How do Arab intellectuals perceive themselves and other members of society? What position does democracy hold in their list of priorities? Why did some Arab intellectuals cooperate\ with repressive authoritarian regimes? And, is there a link between their views towards democracy and their ideological convictions?