"The Arabs in Conquest and Revolution" is a well-structured book on Arab history, which provides a detailed account of Arab resistance against foreign rule, colonialism, Jewish aggression, and internal conflicts. However, the book's drawback lies in its lack of insightful analysis, as most of the content merely lists historical events.
Throughout history, the Arabs have always aspired to establish a unified nation. However, since gaining independence and forming individual countries in the last century, the realization of this aspiration has become increasingly elusive. Initially, the main contradiction within the entire Arab nation was the struggle against colonialism and the establishment of a unified state. Subsequent contradictions have become more complex as Arabs bear multiple identities, such as citizens of their respective countries, Arabs, and Muslims. The serious conflicts between different sects of Islam have exacerbated the instability in the Arab world.
Furthermore, the existence of Israel as a Jewish state is also a destabilizing factor for the entire Arab world, with the Arab-Israeli conflict still ongoing. Therefore, externally, there is a need to manage conflicting interests among various factions, and internally, there is a need to address the complexity of internal conflicts. The prospects for achieving peace and stability in the entire Arab world seem bleak.
Here are a few memorable points:
Ignorance breeds arrogance, and arrogance breeds ignorance. In the late 18th century, when the British visited the city of Alexandria and informed local officials that France was about to invade them, offering assistance, they were refused. In the eyes of the aristocracy in Alexandria, a second-rate country could not invade the land of the Sultan, and they did not need help from a second-rate country. The closed environment led to the Arabs' mistaken understanding of the dramatic changes in the outside world until they were forced to realize their ignorance when European powers used guns to open their gates.
Conflict between religious beliefs and modern civilization. When the French attempted to influence the people of Cairo with the ideas of freedom after the French Revolution, they failed. Muslims rejected the notion of human reason surpassing divine revelation. They believed in the uniqueness of Allah and the singularity of His law, without the need for additional thoughts and rules.
Irreconcilable conflict between faith and interests. The establishment of Israel as a Jewish state was a great insult to the Arab world, and the support of Western countries for Israel expanded this impact globally. The Arabs attempted to regain their land through warfare but faced sanctions from Western nations. If they were to enter into peace treaties with Israel or Western countries, they would face opposition from their own people. Furthermore, the lack of unity within Islamic sects further intensified this contradiction, leading to ongoing turmoil and civil wars.