Philosophy of Nonviolence

Revolution, Constitutionalism, and Justice beyond the Middle East

Chibli Mallat

Considers the scope of the Middle East Revolution through the different inter-connected perspectives of nonviolence theory, constitutionalism, and post-dictatorship justice
Focuses on the unique nexus of philosophy and revolution by exploring the close interaction between mass-based nonviolence, and the demands for accountability that inspired the revolution
Maintains thoroughly abstract and philosophical arguments while substantiating those arguments in historical context
Provides an interdisciplinary analysis embodying philosophy, law, history, political science, and international relations
Offers a mix of analytical, thorough research, and practical measures that derive from and inform the theory
Includes a scholarly array of legal, philosophical, and religious treatises and documents from Hammurabi to ongoing international criminal law.
Draws on the author's experiences as a legal practitioner, academic, and revolutionary activist
Contains a scholarly table of authorities/bibliography with cross references

Philosophy of Nonviolence

Revolution, Constitutionalism, and Justice beyond the Middle East

Chibli Mallat

Description

In 2011, the Middle East saw more people peacefully protesting long entrenched dictatorships than at any time in its history. The dictators of Tunisia, Egypt, and Yemen were deposed in a matter of weeks by nonviolent marches. Imprecisely described as 'the Arab Spring', the revolution has been convulsing the whole region ever since. Beyond an uneven course in different countries, Philosophy of Nonviolence examines how 2011 may have ushered in a fundamental break in world history. The break, the book argues, is animated by nonviolence as the new spirit of the philosophy of history.

Philosophy of Nonviolence maps out a system articulating nonviolence in the revolution, the rule of constitutional law it yearns for, and the demand for accountability that inspired the revolution in the first place. Part One--Revolution, provides modern context to the generational revolt, probes the depth of Middle Eastern-Islamic humanism, and addresses the paradox posed by nonviolence to the 'perpetual peace' ideal. Part Two--Constitutionalism, explores the reconfiguration of legal norms and power structures, mechanisms of institutional change and constitution-making processes in pursuit of the nonviolent anima. Part Three--Justice, covers the broadening concept of dictatorship as crime against humanity, an essential part of the philosophy of nonviolence. It follows its frustrated emergence in the French revolution, its development in the Middle East since 1860 through the trials of Arab dictators, the pyramid of accountability post-dictatorship, and the scope of foreign intervention in nonviolent revolutions. Throughout the text, Professor Mallat maintains thoroughly abstract and philosophical arguments, while substantiating those arguments in historical context enriched by a close participation in the ongoing Middle East revolution.

Philosophy of Nonviolence

Revolution, Constitutionalism, and Justice beyond the Middle East

Chibli Mallat

Preface

General Introduction
1. The Middle East Nonviolent Revolution: A philosophical manifesto

Part I- Revolution

2. Introduction- Nonviolence between order of reasons and decrees of reality

3. A brief history of nonviolence in the Middle East

4. Shattered political language: Reconstructing a humanist culture of nonviolence

5. Nonviolence: The central philosophical paradox

6. Conclusion- Rhythms of nonviolence

Part II- Constitutionalism

7. Introduction

8. Caveat: Against Secession

9. Constitutional ruins and unfathomable politics of transition

10. Constitution-writing: LEJFARC's universal template

11. Middle Eastern constitutionalism

12. Conclusion- Constitutionalism and nonviolence

Part III- Justice

13. Introduction- The order of reasons restated

14. 'Dictatorship is a crime against humanity'

15. Middle Eastern precedents and universal trends

16. The pyramid of accountability

17. Justice and nonviolence

18. Coda: on foreign intervention and nonviolence

19. Epilogue-The 2011 Anima

Bibliography

Index

Philosophy of Nonviolence

Revolution, Constitutionalism, and Justice beyond the Middle East

Chibli Mallat

Author Information

Chibli Mallat is a lawyer and a law professor. He serves as Presidential Professor of Law and Professor of Law and Politics of the Middle East at the S.J. Quinney School of Law at the University of Utah. He also holds the EU Jean Monnet Chair of European Law at Saint Joseph's University in Lebanon. Professor Mallat has taught law on three continents as: Lecturer in Islamic Law and Director of the Centre for Islamic and Middle Eastern Law at SOAS, University of London; Visiting Professor, and Law and Public Affairs fellow at the Woodrow Wilson School, Princeton University; Visiting Professor of Law and Oscar M. Ruebhausen Distinguished Senior Fellow at Yale Law School; and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques; Visiting Professor of Islamic Legal Studies at Harvard Law School. A prolific author in Arabic, English, and French, he is Chairman of Right to Nonviolence, a Middle East-based NGO active in the fields covered by this book. Amongst his publications are Introduction to Middle Eastern Law (Oxford, 2007), The Renewal of Islamic Law (Cambridge, 1993), The Middle East into the 21st Century (Reading, 1996), Democracy in America (in Arabic, Nahar, Beirut 2001),and Iraq: Guide to Law and Policy (Boston 2009).

Philosophy of Nonviolence

Revolution, Constitutionalism, and Justice beyond the Middle East

Chibli Mallat

Reviews and Awards

"Chibli Mallat invites us to think about what has been obscured by the reactionary turn in the ongoing revolutions in the Arab world: the non-violent origins of the revolts, and the possibilities of nonviolent action following violent turns. Structured around the three central themes of revolution, constitutionalism, and justice, he shows the necessary links between strategies, institutional arrangements, and the telos of political change. Moving back and forth between revolutionary France and the present Middle East, and between philosophical discourse and constitutional proposals, Mallat's Philosophy of Nonviolence makes a plea for a fine-grained processual analysis to frame these revolutions, whose significance goes beyond their specific locales to our collective futures. This inspiring and erudite book deserves a wide readership." -John Borneman, Professor of Anthropology, Princeton University

Philosophy of Nonviolence

Revolution, Constitutionalism, and Justice beyond the Middle East

Chibli Mallat

From Our Blog

Nonviolence, revolution, and the Arab Spring

In 2011, the Middle East saw more people peacefully protesting long entrenched dictatorships than at any time in its history. The dictators of Tunisia, Egypt, and Yemen were deposed in a matter of weeks by nonviolent marches. Described as 'the Arab Spring', the revolution has been convulsing the whole region ever since.

Posted on March 16, 2015

Read the blog post