The Culture of Sectarianism: Community, History, and Violence in Nineteenth-Century Ottoman Lebanon

摘要: Focusing on Ottoman Lebanon, Ussama Makdisi shows how sectarianism was a manifestation of modernity that transcended the physical boundaries particular country. His study challenges those who have viewed sectarian violence as an Islamic response to westernization or simply product social and economic inequities among religious groups. The nineteenth century, which culminated in mobilizations massacres 1860, complex, multilayered, subaltern expression modernization, he says, not primordial reaction it. argues represented deliberate mobilization identities for political purposes. reform movement launched 1839 growing European presence Middle East contributed disintegration traditional Lebanese order based hierarchy bridged differences. highlights colonialism Orientalism, with their emphasis Christian salvation despotism, local nationalisms each created used narratives foils own visions projects colonial, imperial, national development. Makdisi's book is important our understanding society today, but it also makes significant contribution discussion importance discourse formation dissolution modern world.