Sati al-Husri(1880-1968)

A Brief Overview of His Life

(1965) In Broummana, Lebanon. Sati al-Husri with his daughter Salwaand his two granddaughtersMayada and Abdiya

A Brief Overview of His Life

Born in Sana, Yemen in 1880Initially a supporter of Ottomanismand later a supporter of ArabismHis fundamental goal was thedevelopment of Arab nationalismInfluenced by nineteenth centurythinkers (specifically those fromItaly and Germany) Sati’ al- Husri paid particular attention Sana, Yemen

to matters of language

A Brief Overview of His Life

(1965) In Broummana, Lebanon.Sati al-Husri, his daughterSalwa; and his two granddaughters Mayada and Abdiya

A Brief Overview of His Life

1900 - graduated from the Royal AcademyAfter graduation he worked as a schoolteacher in Yanina in EpirusFive years later he took up an administrative position in MacedoniaBecame a member of the"Committee of Union and Progress" (CUP) in Turkey Yanina, Espirus

A Brief Overview of His Life

Sati al-Husri with his infantgranddaughter,Mayada

A Brief Overview of His Life

He was very much an educator Believed education would popularize Arab nationalism to the common Arab“ To ensure that the entire history program was implemented along nationalistic lines, al-Husriissued rigorous directives to history teachers in Iraq.”

Are You Paying Attention?

Where is Sati’ al-Husri from? Initially a supporter of _________, and later a supporter of _______.What was his fundamental role?

He was influenced by nineteenth century thinkers specifically those from which two countries?Paid special attention to what?

Sana, YemenOttomanism

Arabism

Influencing the development of Arab Nationalism

Italy & GermanyLanguage

Sati’al-Husri and Colonialism

The decline of the Ottoman Empire made al- Husri aware of the power of Nationalism.Colonialism by the European powers created a need for Arab nationalism and consolidated al-Husri’s beliefs in nationalism

Ottoman EmpireCoat of Arms

Sati’al-Husri and Colonialism

Sati al-Husri felt that imperialism/colonialism was the worst threat to Arab Nationalism and unity. The Ottoman Empire organized people by their religion, not their language or nationality. Cultural and nationalistic ties were seen as a threat to the Ottoman Empire as they inspired political revolt.

Basic Overview ofthe Ottoman Empire

Sati’al-Husri and Colonialism

When Abdulhamid II came to power, he suppressed liberalism and introduced the doctrine of Islamic unity under himself as Calif. The society called “Progress and Union” expanded the idea of Ottomanism as a uniting force. “It was against this background of absolutism, conspiracy, and conflicting concepts of reform, Westernization, Ottomanism, and Islamic revival that Sati al-Husri was born and grew to manhood.” -The Making of an Arab Nationalist Al-Husri, through his work in Ottoman administration, saw the disunity of the Ottoman Empire and became acutely aware of the motive force of nationalism.

Sati’al-Husri and Colonialism: Committee for Union and ProgressAl-Husri, though never a formal member, was a supporter of the Committee for Union and Progress (CUP) and the reforms it promisedThe CUP, like Progress and Union, supported the idea of Ottomanism The CUP failed to reunite the empire – How can the empire be saved?

Committee for Union

and Progress

Sati’al-Husri and Colonialism: Committee for Union and ProgressThe CUP attempted Turkification of the empire. This brought it into conflict with Arab units and the Arab sense of culture and linguistics. Arab agitation led to demands for more autonomy and reform. At this point in time al-Husri did not align himself with either the Arab Separatists or Turkish Nationalists.

Turkish

Flag

Sati’al-Husri and Colonialism:Post WWI

Al-Husri moved to Syria following the war and threw his support behind Arab Nationalism “The failure of the Ottoman Empire in World War I left the dominant faction of the Arab elite with no alternative to Arabism.” -Ernest Dawn Following the war, despite war time promises to the Arabs, the Ottoman Arab states were divided up into European spheres of influence because of the Sykes- Picot agreement between Britain and France.Further agitation created by the Balfour Declaration, promising a Jewish homeland in Palestine.

Sati’al-Husri and Colonialism: Post WWI

This created tensions, and fuelled Arab Nationalism as it was a means by which to repel the European states The creation of Israel further cemented the idea of Arab nationalism, as they united to attempt to destroy the new state. “Imperialist machinations were blamed for the failure of a unified Arab nation to emerge form the Arab revolt.” -The Making of an Arab NationalistAl- Husri maintains that the division of the Ottoman Arab states into the different European spheres of influence divided up the Arab world into a collection of Arab states.

Sati’al-Husri and Colonialism

The factors which separated Arabs were “intrusive rather than inherent” and that there are no fundamental differences among Arabs which requires their division into separate states. “Foreigners have disrupted the natural order of things through the imposition of their own material interests.”European colonialism following the First World War served to unify and consolidate al- Husri’s support of Arab Nationalism.

Are You Paying Attention?

What made Sati’al-Husri aware of the power of nationalism?

Where did the Committee for Union and Progress (CUP) develop?

What idea did CUP support?

The decline of the Ottoman Empire.

Turkey

Ottomanism

Religion vs. Culture in Arab States

Sati’ al-Husri differed from other Arab nationalists in that he was a secularistBelieved a nation was separate from religionViewed a nation (umma) as a living entity that was comprised of a shared language and history Criticisism of Sati’ al-Husri’s emphasis on LanguageSeparation of culture and religion was a key for Arab unity His view of the Arab nation included all groups and races that spoke Arabic.

Religion vs. Culture: Arabic Culture’s Influence on Islamic Culture (From

Lecture)Role of clan/patrilineal influence Concern for the vulnerable Issues/values of desert lifeBeliefs in spirit (mysticism) Arabic was language of the Qu’ranOrality and veneration of language

A Sufi (Islamic Mysticist)

Religion vs. Culture: Islam’s Influence on Arabic Culture (From Lecture )

ArchitectureScholarshipDressSocial IdentityMusicCustomsGovernment Structure

Religion vs. Culture: The Emergence of Pan-Arabism

The roots were first laid out of Arab feelings of alienation from the Ottoman Empire Gained greater significance with the formation of United Arab Republic The Middle East contained numerous identities based on religion, sect, town, village, family, and other group associations and interests, most of them did not involve the Arabic language until the appearance Pan-Arabism

Religion vs. Culture: The Emergence of Pan-Arabism

“Arabness” was first only applied to those whose family lineage traced back to the Arabian Peninsula.1930 - definition of being an Arab changed to encompass those who spoke Arabic.Arabism laid the foundations for the formation of the Ba‘ath or Renaissance Party

Ba’ath PartyEmblem

Religion vs. Culture: Pan-Islam

Arose out of fear of a Western domination of Muslim societies during the colonial period Used Islamic culture as a means to achieve a sense of unityEmphasized religion as a way to unite Muslims and set them apart from the WestJamal al-Din al-Afghani (1839–1897) was the chief advocate of pan-Islamism

Religion vs. Culture: Arab Unity and The Power of Language

Sati’al-Husri used a linguistic definition of Arabism to deny the cultural claims of ethnic minoritiesThe Arab League believed the Arabic language could be used to unite the diverse cultural, ethnic, and religious areas from Morocco to Somalia to Iraq Sati’ al-Husri shared this view, believing “every person who speaks Arabic is an Arab. Everyone who is affiliated with these people is an Arab”.

Flag of theArab League

Religion vs. Culture: Arab Unity

“Every Arab-speaking people is an Arab people. Every individual belonging to one of these Arabic-speaking peoples is an Arab. And if he does not recognize this, and if he is not proud of his Arabism, then we must look for the reasons that have made him take this stand. It may be an expression of ignorance; in that case we must teach him the truth. It may spring from an indifference or falseconsciousness; in that case we must enlighten him and lead him to the right path. It may result from extreme egoism; in that case we must limit his egoism. But under no circumstances, should we say: "As long as he does not wish to be an Arab, and as long as he isdisdainful of his Arabness, then he is not an Arab." He is an Arab regardless of his own wishes. Whether ignorant, indifferent, undutiful, or disloyal, he is an Arab, but an Arab without consciousness or feeling, and perhaps even without conscience.”

- Sati` al-Husri

Are You Paying Attention?

How did Sati’al-Husri differ from other Arab nationalists?

Whom did his view of the Arab nation include?

Separation of what two things was a key for Arab unity?

He was a secularist.

All groups and races that spoke Arabic.

Culture and religion.

Perceptions and Ideologies of Arab Nationalism: The views of Sati al-Husri

Al-Husri’s approach to Arab Nationalism was influenced greatly by nineteenth century European thinkers“Cultural-sentimental” approach to nationalism Insisted constantly on the idea of the long standing historic existence of Arab Nationalism Perceived localist tendencies as the main obstacle to nationalist goals

Perceptions and Ideologies of Arab Nationalism: The Views of Sati al-Husri

Sati Al-Husri established a barrier between civilisation and culture Through the unification of language, it would easier to establish a common unity between the universal Arab community eventually leading to Arab nationalism

Map of ArabUnification

Perceptions and Ideologies of Arab Nationalism: The Ba’ath Party

The Ba’ath PartyA combination of socialism, nationalism, and Pan-ArabismFounded in 1945, as a center-left, secular, Arab Nationalist power Al-Husri promoted two out of the three ideas.

Ba’ath Party

Flag

Perceptions and Ideologies of Arab Nationalism: Syria

The Ba’ath Party came to power on March 8, 1963 Much of the ideals of the Ba’ath Party, were inspired by the French RevolutionHeld a monopoly on power essentially since its initiationVery much based on Soviet-Style SocialismParty based around the needs of the peasants and the working class, ideally

Coat of Arms

Perceptions and Ideologies of Arab Nationalism: Iraq

Ba’ath party first elected for a short period of time in 1963, but was overthrown shortly after Then was re-elected in 1968, and held power until 2003 Then Saddam Hussein began to gain power, and became the leader of the party He drastically changed the dynamics of the party, which can be seen in the stratification within the social structure of the party

Saddam

Hussein

Perceptions and Ideologies of Arab Nationalism: Iraq

The Party also became heavily militarized, something that the party lacked during its first initiation in 1963 Post Saddam saw many changes within Iraq The US led occupation forces arrested Hussein and banned the Ba’ath party Demonstrations and protests at schools and Universities occurred all over the country

Perceptions and Ideologies of Arab Nationalism

Saddam Hussein and the Ba'ath Party student cell in Cairo in the 1959-1963 period

Perceptions and Ideologies of Arab Nationalism: Iraq v. Syria

Although both Syria and Iraq adopted both the Ba’athist principles and government, ideologically they differ greatly, almost to the degree of becoming rivalsSyria adopted Qotri, otherwise known as a Regionalist style of ideology, and tended to align itself with the Soviet UnionIraq adopted Qawmi, or Nationalistic ideology, which typically was set in a more centrist stance Most likely that Al-Husri would have aligned himself with the more nationalistic ideological presumption, and politically central stance that Iraq chose opposed to both the regionalistic presumption and socialist stance that Syria adopted

Perceptions and Ideologies of Arab Nationalism

Saddam Hussein with national Ba'ath Party leadership in 1990

Are You Paying Attention?

What did Sati’al-Husri perceive as the main obstacle to nationalist goals?

What were some of the ideals of the Ba’ath Party inspired by?

What two countries adopted Ba’athist principle and government?

Localist tendencies

The French Revolution

Syria and Iraq

Conclusion

Sati’al-Husri never did see the fulfillment of a united Arab state, but his legacy lives on in his ideas and he remain to this day the father of Pan-Arabism.