A rigorous exploration of the roots of sectarianism in the Middle East, analysing how the social category of sect has been reinvented as a basis for political identity.
Azmi Bishara is one of the Arab world's most prominent scholars, a critic of authoritarianism and colonialism, and a staunch supporter of democratic transition in the region. He has published on political thought, state formation theory, social theory and philosophy. His books include Palestine: Matters of Truth and Justice; Sectarianism Without Sects and Arduous Paths: On the Theory and Practice of Democratic Transition (all published by Hurst); as well as Religion and Secularism in Historical Context; The Question of the State: Philosophy, Theory, and Context; and On Salafism.