Abstract
This study traces the theory on sectarianism by Mahdī ‘Āmil (1936-1987), and places it in two contexts to show its implications, namely the context of “secularism” of the Lebanese left, and the context of debates by Arab intellectuals concerning cultural heritage.
Mahdī ‘Āmil was a prominent Lebanese Marxist intellectual, and an important member of the Lebanese Communist Party. This study will first briefly trace the history of the Lebanese Communist Party in order to understand the context in which ‘Āmil was producing his thoughts. After this, it will outline ‘Āmil’s theory with close attention to his understanding of the concept of the state and its relation to sectarianism.
Through the reading of ‘Āmil, this study attempts to demonstrate two implications. The first implication is that it enables us to understand the meaning of “secularism” within the Lebanese left also as as a resistance against the bourgeois state of Lebanon. It also observes the complicated relation between the concepts of secularism, sectariansm and modernity within the Lebanese left. The second implication is that it enables us to realize one role ‘Āmil played in contemporary Arab intellectual history, namely reexamining the relationship between the state and cultural issues. This study also considers the relation between modernity and Arab culture within ‘Āmil’s theory.
