Utopianism in the Middle East and North Africa

Utopianism in the Middle East and North Africa (Edinburgh University Press) is the first comprehensive exploration of utopian thought and practice in the modern Middle East and North Africa. Fuchs reveals how visions of ideal futures have shaped the region’s politics, ideologies, and conflicts. Drawing on case studies from Egypt, Turkey, Iran, Syria, Tunisia, and Saudi Arabia, Fuchs examines a wide range of utopian imaginaries from liberalism and socialism to Islamic revivalism and technological and scientific futures. Combining cross-disciplinary voices, this volume highlights how writers, activists, statesmen, and artists alike have imagined and contested alternative worlds, demonstrating how utopian visions can simultaneously challenge power and reinforce authoritarian rule.