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Self-Criticism After the Defeat
"A unique book. . . . al-Azm sought to strip Arab thought of its belief in fate and folk tales and superstition. . . . He told his people the sort of truths that outsiders are too embarrassed to tell, even when they were themselves able to see these truths."—Fouad Ajami
The 1967 War—which led to the defeat of Syria, Jordan, and Egypt by Israel—felt like an unprecedented and unimaginable disaster for the Arab world at the time. For many, the easiest solution was to shift the blame and to ignore some of the glaring defects of Arab society.
Hailed as one of the foremost Arab intellectuals of recent decades, Sadik al-Azm was one of the few to challenge such a view in his seminal Self-Criticism After the Defeat. In it, he offered a penetrating analysis that probed deep into Arab society, and reasoned that Arabs had to embrace democracy, gender equality, and science to achieve progress.
Self-Criticism After the Defeat represents a milestone in modern Arab intellectual history. It marked a turning point in Arab discourse about society and politics on publication in 1968, and spawned other intellectual ventures into Arab self-criticism. This is the first translation of the work into English.
Born in Damascus in 1934, Sadik al-Azm is professor emeritus of modern European philosophy at the University of Damascus, Syria. He earned his PhD (1961) from Yale University, and was visiting professor in the department of near Eastern studies at Princeton University until 2008.
The 1967 War—which led to the defeat of Syria, Jordan, and Egypt by Israel—felt like an unprecedented and unimaginable disaster for the Arab world at the time. For many, the easiest solution was to shift the blame and to ignore some of the glaring defects of Arab society.
Hailed as one of the foremost Arab intellectuals of recent decades, Sadik al-Azm was one of the few to challenge such a view in his seminal Self-Criticism After the Defeat. In it, he offered a penetrating analysis that probed deep into Arab society, and reasoned that Arabs had to embrace democracy, gender equality, and science to achieve progress.
Self-Criticism After the Defeat represents a milestone in modern Arab intellectual history. It marked a turning point in Arab discourse about society and politics on publication in 1968, and spawned other intellectual ventures into Arab self-criticism. This is the first translation of the work into English.
Born in Damascus in 1934, Sadik al-Azm is professor emeritus of modern European philosophy at the University of Damascus, Syria. He earned his PhD (1961) from Yale University, and was visiting professor in the department of near Eastern studies at Princeton University until 2008.
191 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1969
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 25, 2018
Worse Than Bad Advice
Azm's original book ran 103 pages. This reissue begins with a present day contextual introduction by historian Fouad Ajami followed by a short 2007 remembrance by the author, then a small 2007 introduction by Faisal Darraj noting that the same criticisms regarding "homogenicity, fatalism, authoritarianism, fabulism, backwardness, tyranny, corruption, weakness and immiseration" of Arab society that Azm voiced 40 years ago still apply.
The basic problem, according to Azm, is that the Arab Nation was unprepared to meet a modern enemy on the battlefield. The Arab, he claims, is far more interested in his immediate blood line and family and cares little for the public domain. The defeat of '67 was demoralizing, many concluded that a return to religion was needed, "we had abandoned God and God abandoned us." Another criticism was the lack of involvement of women in the Arab cause, which he contrasts to the role of Zionist women, citing Simone de Beauvoir's interviews with Israelis. He lays out his solution - more socialism, education, modernization and development, so that next time the Arabs will win.
In a perverse way Azm admires both Israel and Western thought, including paeans to Soviet socialism. In his desire to crush Arab weakness he is willing to jettison Arab identity for a foreign construct, just as Ahab sacrifices his soul in pursuit of a Great White Whale. To believe, as Azm does, is to miss the point. Israelis did not develop a successful state to destroy their enemies but to build their society, and self defense was a byproduct not the end goal of that need.
The book concludes with 3 responses written in 1968. Of these the first by Elan Shakir is a mash of Stakhanovic Marxist exhortations that are purely jingoism. The 2nd and 3rd responses are mostly quotations from the original book that summarizes the main points of the text.
A useful book to understand that hatred is like an onion. One peels away the layers to find more of the same, and by the time you are done, nothing remains. One day Arabs will decide that destroying Israel is no longer important, but building the Arab world is. That day will be the greatest day in modern Arab history. Insh'Allah then there will be peace between Isaac and Ishmael and all will move forward. Azm's critique is not the way.
Azm's original book ran 103 pages. This reissue begins with a present day contextual introduction by historian Fouad Ajami followed by a short 2007 remembrance by the author, then a small 2007 introduction by Faisal Darraj noting that the same criticisms regarding "homogenicity, fatalism, authoritarianism, fabulism, backwardness, tyranny, corruption, weakness and immiseration" of Arab society that Azm voiced 40 years ago still apply.
The basic problem, according to Azm, is that the Arab Nation was unprepared to meet a modern enemy on the battlefield. The Arab, he claims, is far more interested in his immediate blood line and family and cares little for the public domain. The defeat of '67 was demoralizing, many concluded that a return to religion was needed, "we had abandoned God and God abandoned us." Another criticism was the lack of involvement of women in the Arab cause, which he contrasts to the role of Zionist women, citing Simone de Beauvoir's interviews with Israelis. He lays out his solution - more socialism, education, modernization and development, so that next time the Arabs will win.
In a perverse way Azm admires both Israel and Western thought, including paeans to Soviet socialism. In his desire to crush Arab weakness he is willing to jettison Arab identity for a foreign construct, just as Ahab sacrifices his soul in pursuit of a Great White Whale. To believe, as Azm does, is to miss the point. Israelis did not develop a successful state to destroy their enemies but to build their society, and self defense was a byproduct not the end goal of that need.
The book concludes with 3 responses written in 1968. Of these the first by Elan Shakir is a mash of Stakhanovic Marxist exhortations that are purely jingoism. The 2nd and 3rd responses are mostly quotations from the original book that summarizes the main points of the text.
A useful book to understand that hatred is like an onion. One peels away the layers to find more of the same, and by the time you are done, nothing remains. One day Arabs will decide that destroying Israel is no longer important, but building the Arab world is. That day will be the greatest day in modern Arab history. Insh'Allah then there will be peace between Isaac and Ishmael and all will move forward. Azm's critique is not the way.
January 3, 2018
The great Sadiq al-Azm draws an arch from the devastating loss against Israel in 1967, to the seeming vindication of the autocracies in 1973, to note that the harsh encounter with reality did not yield the kind of sustained critical re-examination that could have put the Arabs on a sustainable trajectory to modernity.
It's a truly inspiring book to read - deep analysis with piercing viewpoints based on solid evidence and objectivity. Bold enough to anatomize the root reasons for the 1967 defeat and did not avoid expressing opinions that many might not be willing to face.
It's a truly inspiring book to read - deep analysis with piercing viewpoints based on solid evidence and objectivity. Bold enough to anatomize the root reasons for the 1967 defeat and did not avoid expressing opinions that many might not be willing to face.
June 28, 2021
I find the book really invigorating in the sense that the author had analysed the key reasons for why the Arab states had experienced such a embarrassing, crushing defeat to Israel in the year 1967. It all boiled down to the social mores of the Arabs who were described (from what I gather) as a very, VERY complacent bunch. The war could have a very different ending if the Arabs had been less egoistic (having the notion that Arab states are much bigger, ergo wields a great amount of force to crush their small enemy), were able to think on their feet without having to wait for the commands from their superiors (the description of how one of the air bases was decimated had me stupefied), been a bit more realistic rather than taking holy scriptures too literally (an influential religious figure was said to mention that the Arabs need not worry because the angels would rally with them during the war). Another salient point made was the fact that the Arabs did not find it it a necessity to develop and utilise their human resources (the intellectuals and females) in their war efforts, which is a big shame. Even after the war, the Arabs were quick to point fingers at others rather than taking ownership over the defeat. The same can be said about the Arab leaders and states today.. rather than putting up a fight for the liberation of the oppressed people of Palestine, they'd much rather take the path of least resistance.. and would much rather appease their Western friends and their own bellies.. so much so, that a growing number of these states have normalised their relationships with Israel (even Saudi Arabia)
June 28, 2021
Why I'm interested in this book at the first place
One of the recommend literature about Palestine by Saqi Books , via their Instagram post:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CO0Y8u_rJ...
This is the third book I picked from the list.
What do I think of this book... now that I've done reading it
This is a commentary and the critique on the aftermath of The Six-Day War 1967, between Israel and Jordan,Syria and Egypt.
I'll just list down the gist of what was covered in this book:
1. Tribal values vs family ties
2. Struggle with effectiveness
3. Rationalizing failure vs accountability
4. Vietnam War as case study
5. The importance of science and technology
6. The lack of human element
7. Absence of education institution
8. Arab patriotism vs Arab nationalism
9. Fully utilizing Arab resources
+
Especially if you're new of the happenings of the Six-Day War, couldn't recommend enough to also read the following chapters: Preface, Introduction, Supplement.
-
If you're a less than a fan of historical events- type of non fiction, you will find this book quite stuffy.
Get this
1. If you love history.
One of the recommend literature about Palestine by Saqi Books , via their Instagram post:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CO0Y8u_rJ...
This is the third book I picked from the list.
What do I think of this book... now that I've done reading it
This is a commentary and the critique on the aftermath of The Six-Day War 1967, between Israel and Jordan,Syria and Egypt.
I'll just list down the gist of what was covered in this book:
1. Tribal values vs family ties
2. Struggle with effectiveness
3. Rationalizing failure vs accountability
4. Vietnam War as case study
5. The importance of science and technology
6. The lack of human element
7. Absence of education institution
8. Arab patriotism vs Arab nationalism
9. Fully utilizing Arab resources
+
Especially if you're new of the happenings of the Six-Day War, couldn't recommend enough to also read the following chapters: Preface, Introduction, Supplement.
-
If you're a less than a fan of historical events- type of non fiction, you will find this book quite stuffy.
Get this
1. If you love history.
October 28, 2018
This kept being cited in international relations things, so I decided I should actually read it.
For me the interesting part is what he says about modernity, particularly that Arab societies had not adapted to modernity and this is why they cannot be effective on an international stage, and why they lost the Arab-Israeli war so badly. He argues that rejecting modernity means rejecting reality, which left Arab countries with a fantastical view of the world, and this is why they're unable to even understand their failure to be able to learn from it.
A lot of what he says about Israel is pretty problematic, since he's writing in an environment where wanting Israel to be destroyed militarily is totally normal. And his prescription is all about a communist revolution, which makes sense given where and when he was writing. (He also has a certain amount of obnoxious "this is what's wrong with kids today" pop-psychology)
But for me the big take away is that accepting modernity is a matter of realpolitik, that the only choices are to adopt modernism or be written out of history, and that the transformation needs to be really fundamental to how people see themselves.
For me the interesting part is what he says about modernity, particularly that Arab societies had not adapted to modernity and this is why they cannot be effective on an international stage, and why they lost the Arab-Israeli war so badly. He argues that rejecting modernity means rejecting reality, which left Arab countries with a fantastical view of the world, and this is why they're unable to even understand their failure to be able to learn from it.
A lot of what he says about Israel is pretty problematic, since he's writing in an environment where wanting Israel to be destroyed militarily is totally normal. And his prescription is all about a communist revolution, which makes sense given where and when he was writing. (He also has a certain amount of obnoxious "this is what's wrong with kids today" pop-psychology)
But for me the big take away is that accepting modernity is a matter of realpolitik, that the only choices are to adopt modernism or be written out of history, and that the transformation needs to be really fundamental to how people see themselves.
January 21, 2024
really hard to rate this as i am very clearly not the intended audience (either geographically or… like… chronologically) and it’s not necessarily an easy read. probably also i’m just dumb. i think it was an important book? but i’m also not sure many of the lessons from the book were applied. i do wonder what the author would make of saudi arabia.
anyway, i really liked that there were a few critiques of the book included at the end of my edition. that feels like a good practice with this kind of book.
anyway, i really liked that there were a few critiques of the book included at the end of my edition. that feels like a good practice with this kind of book.
December 28, 2018
Lesin í nokkrum hlutum yfir langt tímabil (lesist: tvö ár). Góð en þó með sína vankanta, sem er kannski eðlilegt verandi lesin í umhverfi ársins 2018 en bókin skrifuð árið 1968. Hvet þó áhugafólk um stjórnmál og sögu Miðausturlanda að kynna sér þessa bók og höfundinn Sadik Al-Azm.
December 31, 2021
It is a historical book which I read for my Coursera course. Remarkable thinking in post 1967 war defeat.
January 15, 2017
1/14/17: Read for Modernism in Arab Thought at UNC. Very clear, well-written analysis of Arab philosophy after 1967. Will update more if I re-read.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews