Age of Coexistence

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Today’s headlines depict the Middle East as a region plagued by war and sectarian strife. Ussama Makdisi’s work reveals a more nuanced narrative, highlighting a history of coexistence amid Ottoman reforms, European colonialism, and rising nationalism. This groundbreaking exploration spans from the nineteenth century to today, examining the politics of pluralism during the Ottoman Empire and in the post-Ottoman Arab world. Rather than viewing the Arab world through a lens of enduring sectarian conflict, it presents a narrative of a complex coexistence system, termed the “ecumenical frame.” Makdisi argues that innovative antisectarian politics and significant Muslim-Christian collaborations have shaped the modern Arab identity. Despite facing colonialism and authoritarianism, this framework for coexistence has persisted for nearly a century, underscoring that religious diversity does not inherently lead to sectarianism. Instead, as Makdisi illustrates, individuals of various faiths, often sharing similar political views, have continuously sought to forge modern societies that rise above religious and sectarian divides. This perspective offers a hopeful reminder of the potential for harmony in a region often characterized by conflict.