Wisam Kh. Abdul-Jabbar looks at the second part of Dimitri Nasrallah’s novel Blackbodying (2004), which takes the form of an embedded novella, “Canadian Fiction” about an immigrant’s traumatic diasporic experience in an inhospitable Toronto. This study draws on the conceptual framework of internalization to examines the stigmatizing condition of the immigrant in exile. As part of this it looks at the immigrant Sameer’s loss of real-life dialogue which disfigures his wish for social integration and argues that the loss of the ideal real-life dialogue not only traps immigrants in a never-ending quest but threatens their very realities. Finally, the study negates the often-romanticized meta-narrative of successful immigrants living in welcoming cities.
Nevine Abraham discusses Patriarchy, Subordination and Rise of the Individual in Hisham Matar’s In the Country of Men and examines the narrative of resistance to social subordination observed by a child narrator who grows critical of the patriarchy and power hierarchy of Libyan society’s private and public spheres. While considering this subject though the novel set in 1979 Libya this article raises questions on the possibility of individual agency and rise of the citizen against a post-colonial Arab despotic regime, with its patriarchal authoritarianism rooted in colonialism, causing dependency and subjugation which undermines citizens’ power and faith. This article concludes with some reflections on the outcomes of 2011 Arab uprisings with regards to active citizenship.
Gamal M. Selim and Rania S. Moaaz’s article Sino-Egyptian Relations Post-2013: The Dynamics and Challenges of an Emerging Strategic Partnership looks at the upgrade of China and Egypt bilateral relations, undertaken in 2014, and its coverage of strategic partnership and provision of a new framework under which both states have intensified and deepened their cooperation. This article considers the concept of strategic partnership as a framework of international cooperation and examines the dynamics of the Sino-Egyptian comprehensive strategic partnership from the perspective of the driving motivations of both actors.
ASQ 43.4
This Fall 2021 issue contains four articles and includes book reviews, Books-In-Brief and a list of Books Received. See below for more details of each article in the issue and links to each. Click here for Open Science to read these articles and other from previous ASQ editions.
Mohamed Salah-Eddine Madiou’s article engages in a critical discussion with Hamid’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist and its critics and suggests a new alternative to reading this and other novels by Hamid. It argues that a significant aspect of The Reluctant Fundamentalist has been left undiscussed: art and how Hamid’s text not only reflects on its own footprints but also revolves around Hamid’s own artistic pursuits, experiences, and intimacies.