Foreign Assistance and Development in the Arab World:
An Arab-Islamic Perspective

Authors:

Number of pages: 215
Published in: 2001.
ISBN: 9957-416-01-5
Price: 10$. Click here for your copy.

Book Description...
The book addresses the relationship between assistance and development in the Arab World through tackling the relationship between Islam and development. It also explores, through an Islamic perspective, the various aspects of development-related obstacles prevailing in the Arab World. A study case of the contribution of a non-governmental organization to development in a given Arab country is also provided. Also approached is the role played by foreign assistance as part of the framework of structural-adaptation policies. Furthermore, the book lays emphasis on themes related to the relationship between national sovereignty and foreign assistance, the cultural dimensions involved in foreign assistance, and the political factors determining the effectiveness of foreign assistance with regard to the process of development in the Arab World.

The authors, it should be stated, approach all these themes through an Arab nationalist as well as a modern Islamic perspective. The book is a valuable asset to the Arabic literature in this respect, particularly that it raises a fresh vision as to the areas of assistance, reform strategies, roots of backwardness, and the driving forces of progress. Still, the academic objectivity vital for such studies is evidently present.

Theory of Political Development
Co-Author
Professor Richard Highot, Assistant Professor of Political Sciences and Director of the Center for Regional Studies and Globalization at the University of Work, Britain.
Translated by Professor Hamdi Abd Al Rahman, Professor of Political Sciences, University of Cairo.
Co-Translator: Dr. Muhammad Abd Al Hameed, Assistant Professor of Political Sociology, University of Cairo.
Number of Pages: 292.
Published in: 2001.
Unit Price: US$9.5,(US$ 7 for students).
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Book Description...
The book deals with political development through various perspectives. In Chapter I, the book proposes an analytical pattern based on the assumption that the study of development and backwardness is a junction point for social sciences. Also explored are the different schools of political development as research programs for the study of development's political economy. Chapter II tackles modern literature in the field of political sciences which have been pushed to the fore by the political heritage of the Third World. In the third chapter, the writer discusses what he refers to as the Radical Theory for Development as an academic approach. Special focus is paid to the psychological aspects of Backwardness Sociology. Chapter IV attempts to search for a common ground that could combine the general trend of public politics and governments in the Third World.

In order to best benefit from the translation of this book, a fifth chapter has been added by Dr. Nasser Aref, a scholar that is interested in the obstacles facing the awakening of our communities. The chapter, which handles the issue of post-modernization development, relies on the pillars of awakening that, in turn, rest on the Islamic cultural and knowledge fabric. The writer raises the point of view of the target "other" either at modernization or post-modernization stage. So as to ensure the optimum benefit of this book by readers and college students in particular, an index of the key terms cited in the English version has been attached. This book is a valuable asset to the field of political development.

Legitimacy and Politics: A Study in Political Law and Political Responsibility.
Author:
Dr. Jan-Mark Kwako, Director of Peace Research and State Program, UN University; Former Professor of Philosophy and Political Sciences at New School for Social Research, New York; A university of Harvard Fellow.
Translated by:
Dr. Khaleel I. Tayyar, professor of Political Thought, University of Baghdad.
Number of Pages: 282.
Published in 2001. ISBN 9957-416-02-4.
Unit Price: US$11.
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Book Description..
What is political legitimacy? What conditions must be there to talk about a legitimate situation from a political perspective? These and other questions are discussed in this book through the study of what is known as "the right to govern" in the political field. This attempt is based on the evaluation of the decisions and acts of such leaders and institutions that are tasked with the running of the society in a smooth manner. This, in turn, calls for the interpretation of the issue of political governance criteria. The writer addresses this issue through raising the following themes: differences over political legitimacy; the study of politics in connection with history; the rule of law; the risks created by the subjection of law to political necessities; the theory of political revolutions through the study of relevant concepts; the theory of political consultancy; the legitimate and illegitimate status of a certain political situation; the concept of law; the relations between governors and their citizens; etc. This book is a valuable contribution to the field of political, social, legal studies.

Political Theory Through an Islamic Cultural Perspective
Author:
Professor saif El Deen Ismael, Professor of Political Sciences, University of Cairo.
Number of Pages: 488.
Published in: September 2002.
ISBN 9957-416-06-5.
Unit Price: US$ 18.
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Book Description...
Enrooting the science of political theory from an Islamic perspective is an area that is worth interest and ceaseless academic endeavor, especially that it is quite rare to find interest in the process of theorizing by academics.

The field of political theorizing is considered as one of the most important aspects that contributes to devising a framework for human thought. It is a domain where contemporary political thought in the West has excelled. Yet, the attempts to explore political theories from a modern Islamic perspective have remained limited and unduly discussed. The science of political theories from an Islamic perspective has been suffering from a number of crises, the most notable of which is related to the issue of "originality," which lies in the core of political sciences. The problem of originality is a key obstacle that has negative effect on researchers who may state or parrot the theories of Western thought without scrutinizing or criticizing them, and without exploring how appropriate or adaptable they are. Therefore, the memory of Islamic political heritage is a main element that mobilizes the factors of political modernization on the basis of balance between static state of Islamic heritage on the one hand, and the lack of contact with it on the other. This book addresses the political theory through an Islamic cultural perspective. In other words, it focuses on the political modernization and Islamic experience within the context of an insight into the present Arab state. The author raises several themes: the concept of political modernization and the academic approach to shaping an Islamic political science; the relationship between the building up of an Islamic political science and the study of present Arab situation; the building up of Islamic political concepts; the methodology of political modernization; and the concept of legitimacy from an Islamic point of view and its relation with the modern Arab status quo. This book is, with no doubt, of high importance for Arab scholars and academics.

Ethnic Diversity: Conflict Management and Settlement Strategies
Author:
Dr. Muhammad A. Mahdi, Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of Cairo.
Number of Pages: 191.
Published in September 202.
ISBN 9957-416-04-9.
Unit Price: US$ 10.
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Book Description...
Many parts of the world have long known the phenomenon of diversity in several aspects: religious, ethnic, cultural, and economic. However, this phenomenon has assumed fresh dimension in the light of local, regional, and global developments that have been brought about recently, especially since the early 1990s. "Ethnic Diversity" has acquired a special importance at the academic level due to the challenges posed by ethnic conflicts in many societies throughout the world such as Yugoslavia, Chechnya, Rwanda, Turkey, Sudan, Iraq, Canada, India, etc. Ethnic diversity plays a multi-facet role in the political life of different countries. The experience which the world has gained, thanks to the ethnic conflicts it has seen, reveals the fact that there is a failure in running the political systems of ethnic diversity. This justifies the need to look for the best means to address such situation through the careful study of the relationship of ethnic diversity and the political system in terms of its nature, policies and tools in as far as the management of patterns of ethnic diversity is concerned. Seeking to formulate a vision regarding the future of this relationship, the book tackles the following aspects: definition of ethnic diversity and its patterns; demands, justifications and means of effectiveness of ethnic groups; the differences of demands and priorities of ethnic groups; interpreting the reasons behind such differences; the course assumed by the demands of each group; the envisaged timing of these demands; the leading strategies for managing diversity in terms of policies and institutions; the distinction between peaceful management strategies and suppressive strategies that seek to uproot ethnicity; the key governmental and nongovernmental institutions (legislative, military, party, pressure groups, and executive) that are concerned with ethnic management; corruption as one of the most destructive signs affecting the performance of these institutions; and the most significant management policies of ethnic diversity and their role in running ethnic demands.

The Series of Arabic College Textbook on Political Sciences
This series is released by the Academic Center for Political Sciences in cooperation with the Department of Political Sciences at the University of Yarmouk, Jordan.

Title of first textbook: An Approach to Public Policies Analysis
Author:
Dr. Ahmad M. Hussein, Associate Professor of Public Policies Analysis, Former Instructor at University of Khartoum, University of United Arab Emirates, University of Al El Bait, Present Instructor at University of Qatar.
Number of Pages: 336.
Published in 2002.
ISBN 9957-416-03-0.
Unit Price: US$ 12.
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Book Description...
Like other social fields, the field of public policies has seen a tremendous development over the past two decades. Yet, this vast field has not received sufficient interest in Arab and Islamic states. This has reflected itself in the limited number of relevant publications, and the dependency of most Arab universities on foreign, particularly American, references. Therefore, there is a pressing need for such a book, which is of huge benefit for Arab researchers and students, especially that it ensures a basic background material that could be utilized by students of political sciences and public management at undergraduate levels.

The book is keen to explain the general theoretical framework of public policies analysis. The main points covered include: relevant terminology and concepts; features of public policies; the development of this field; where this field stands on the map of social sciences; various modern trends; approaches to the study and analysis of  public policies and relevant instruments; political, economic, and technical approaches and their relationship with the issues of administrative and political reform and globalization; a brief description of development theories and their links to development policies; suggestions as to how to employ various relevant approaches and analysis tools; institutions of public-policies making and their operations; the process of making official and nonofficial public policies; the issue of organizing, implementing and assessing public policies; and the issue of setting up a field of policies analysis in Arab states. The book focuses on the suggestions related to the establishment of this field in this part of the world. To achieve this purpose, it emphasizes the need to create this field in the Arab states within a regional framework that draws on Arab-Islamic cultural circumstances. Also highlighted is the role of the process of academic research in the establishment of this branch of knowledge in Arab and Islamic states. The book concludes with the introduction of a broad framework that could participate in calling the attention of the process of academic research to this field in such a manner that makes it possible for Arab scholars and students to explore wider prospects.

The Series of Arabic College Textbook on Political Sciences
Second book's title: An Approach to Future Studies in Political Sciences
Author:
Professor Waleed Abd Al Hayy, Professor of Political Studies, University of Yarmouk, Jordan.
Number of Pages: 207
Published in 2002.
ISBN 9957-416-05-7.
Unit Price: US$ 14.
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Book Description...
In the light of the rapid change today's communities are witnessing, international and regional states and institutions, particularly in the West, have been trying to develop their academic potential to examine the future of political, social, economic, and technical phenomena. The field of "Future Studies" is now viewed by developed countries, universities and agencies as a basic element in the process of making strategic decisions. Two thirds of these studies is carried out by military institutions and multinational companies. In addition, 97% of total expenses on future studies comes from the developed countries, whereas the participation of the Third World stands at 3% only. As for the Arab World, the field of future studies suffers from nonacademic analysis methods and severe lack of interest. The Academic Center for Political Sciences has, therefore, taken the initiative to maximize awareness in the Arab World of this field, particularly at academic and student levels. We should keep in mind that future studies play a pivotal role in shaping and developing the strategic future of the Arab World.

The book analyzes the field of future studies through covering the following points: the nature and evolution of future studies; introducing the key tools used in this type of study such as deduction, scenario building, recipient wheel, and others; and the leading figures in the field of future studies and their accomplishments.

The book ends with a study of selected international and Arab future studies as well as of certain scenarios related to the future of the Islamic World.

This book, written by one the Arab pioneers in the branch of future studies, is definitely a unique contribution to this domain.