Palestine And Egyptian National Identity
The focus of this carefully researched book is the place of the Palestinian issue in modern Egyptian political thought. As Egyptian leaders have tried to define the identity of their country as Arab, Mediterranean, Pharaonic, Islamic and simply Egyptian, they have correspondingly elevated or demoted the place of the Palestinian cause in their political platforms. The historical record is a reminder that this debate will continue as Islamic currents challenge the prevailing order, using the Palestinian issue as one means of questioning the political claims of the government. The author is strong on narrative and tells the story well, presupposing a fair amount of familiarity with the main events of twentieth-century Egyptian history. A solid contribution with few theoretical pretensions.
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