This work fulfils the growing need in North America, Europe and elsewhere to understand the Arab culture and mind. Written in an informative style, the book offers the depth needed to understand and deal with this culture, and consequently reduce clashes between Arab and Western worlds.

In The Arab Cocoon, author Tarek Heggy explores the reasons behind the widespread refusal of Arabic-speaking societies to join in the march towards modernity and progress. The refusal, according to Heggy, is due to three constraints, namely: (1) a widespread anti-modernity and anti-integration religious Islamic movement; (2) out-dated educational systems; and (3) unhealthy hatred of the 'other'. He suggests that the systematic rejection of modernity and progress which has resulted from these three constraints is the direct cause for the confrontation between most of the Arabic-speaking peoples and the West. It ensures that Arab culture, people, and their mentality are unable to integrate in the march of civilization, based on progress and modernity. Very little - if anything - has been written in depth on the Arab culture and mind. Writing in an informative and accessible style, Tarek Heggy offers the depth needed to understand and deal with this expanding antimodernity culture, and consequently reduce clashes between the Arab and Western worlds.

Part I of this volume, The Values of Progress, endeavours to prove the existence of three intellectual horizons: the horizon of cultures; above that the horizon of civilizations; and above both the horizon of humanity. This part gives solid evidence that progress is a product of the horizon of humanity. Part II comprises Tarek Heggy's writings on the Egyptian mind. Part III is an attempt to diagnose the illnesses of contemporary Egyptian political and socio-economic actuality and prescribe two solutions: a liberal political system and a modern market economy driven by an advanced cadre that represents the best of modern management techniques. Part IV provides a full-scale criticism of the theory and practices and accurately predicted, in the 1970s, the collapse of the socialist system.

Part I of this volume, The Values of Progress, endeavours to prove the existence of three intellectual horizons: the horizon of cultures; above that the horizon of civilizations; and above both the horizon of humanity. This part gives solid evidence that progress is a product of the horizon of humanity. Part II comprises Tarek Heggy's writings on the Egyptian mind. Part III is an attempt to diagnose the illnesses of contemporary Egyptian political and socio-economic actuality and prescribe two solutions: a liberal political system and a modern market economy driven by an advanced cadre that represents the best of modern management techniques. Part IV provides a full-scale criticism of the theory and practices and accurately predicted, in the 1970s, the collapse of the socialist system.