Eros and Demos: Reading John Dewey in the Arab World

Abstract

The following pages represent an endeavor to explain why Dewey’s understanding of democracy, education, and religion implies great relevance for understanding the present Arab-Islamic crisis. The historicism of Abdallah Laroui, the social theory of Hisham Sharabi, and the political anthropology of Abdellah Hammoudi emphasize that the persistence of political authoritarianism in the Arab world reflects a malaise in the culture or society and above all a crisis of education — an education that remains patriarchal or neo-patriarchal, emphasizing the communal and undermining the individual. The thinkers mentioned above explain that a reform of Demos cannot come about without a reform of Culture. This is another reason John Dewey’s meditations on democracy and education, or democracy as a way of life, are of great importance for today’s Arab societies. Basically, this paper deals with the relevance of Dewey’s work and shows why we cannot achieve a democratic transition without a cultural transition, which includes an education strategy regarding democracy.