Political Transitions In The Arab World

Abstract

Philosophy has kept pace with the political transformations humanity has witnessed from ancient Greece to the present day. These transformations are a necessary consequence of the intellectual and social changes among peoples, including Arab societies, and may be peaceful or violent. In both cases, we need philosophical theorizing to guide society out of crises, especially if the transformation is of the latter, i.e., violent. The Arab world experienced colonialism, and after independence, it had to organize state institutions based on a democratic social or political philosophy that recognizes human rights for individuals and groups. More recently, it has also experienced violent revolutions, requiring it to put its house in order, acknowledging the crimes committed against citizens and working to rectify the damage. To explore this topic, I will address the issue of transitional justice in the transition from a society where injustice of all kinds prevailed to one where justice and democracy reign, and how to rid ourselves of the negative remnants of the past through peaceful means, drawing on the works of contemporary philosophers who have specialized in this subject, such as Jon Elster, Barbara Cassin, Olivier Cayla, and Philippe-Joseph Salazar.