The Challenge of Modernity

The question of modernization in the Arab world remains an inexhaustiblesubject for debate precisely becau e it has not yet been resolved.This inconclusive outcome continue to put the issue at the heart of concernsin these lands. The Arab world is in turmoil: its political elites aredivided and at war with each other, social and economic problems continueto affect and trouble the masses, basic democratic rights are still adream. In short, things are not at all well.The acute awareness of this problem dates back to the setbacks sufferedby the Ottoman Empire in the eighteenth century. Intellectuals havesince been trying to diagnose and offer solutions for the ailment. In tryingto contribute to the debate, Safi thus joins an illustriou line of "doctors"from Khayr al D"tn al TOnis1 through al Afgha.n1 and down to MalikBennabi and ijassan I:Ianafi, to mention but a few of the valiant souls whoattempted to rise up to the challenge.Safi's approach departs from the right point. He tries to synthesizewestern and Arab views on the modernization and to keep his discussionas "scientific" as possible. But he makes no secret of his "ideological"commitment, based on a conception of modernization as a "rationalizationprocess, i.e., an emancipatory project, aiming at eliminating the ...