Roger Owen (1)

I decided to read this book after reading an excellent piece by Hugh Roberts in the LRB (here: http://www.lrb.co.uk/v35/n17/hugh-roberts/the-revolution-that-wasnt) that reviews it along with 3 other books about Egypt. Roberts offered measured praise for Owen's book and I certainly concur with his take: "his book relaunches that debate rather than closing it."

Very briefly, here are the strengths and weaknesses of the book for me.

Strengths: Owen brings a freshness of approach to this subject matter. The consideration of this phenomenon in parallel fashion across multiple Arab countries is illuminating and helpful. As well, he writes with a certain clarity and directness that at times is quite refreshing. It seems like a book that could be very helpful to the non-expert, but it holds up as credible for someone who has studied the region as well.

Weaknesses: I find some of his political-theory categories a little too neat and closed, and less illuminating the more one considers them. I think the book is open to a critique that might deconstruct some of the differences in kind that he ascribes to these leaders. I think that in general I prefer writers with a little more writerly art and definitely more philosophical rigour (and perhaps a little more psychological insight as well). Basically I feel that he is better at organizing available information about these leaders and reporting it than at theorizing about them.

Glad I read this book and I look forward to reading the others reviewed by Roberts, as I try to get to grips, like many of us. with the Arab Spring and everything that has followed from it.… (plus d'informations)