For thirty years or more I have been dreaming of the creation of an independent Palestinian state. It has been a dream of nationhood. Many voices have put words to my dream: the passionate and patriotic speeches and announcements of Hajj Amin al-Husseini, the former Mufti of Palestine, one of the most famous political leader during World War 2; the speeches of Ahmad Al-Shukairy, the founder of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation, and its first president; Ahmad Yasin and Khaled Mishal, respectively the founder and political leader of Hamas.

For thirty years or more I have been dreaming of the creation of an independent Palestinian state. It has been a dream of nationhood. Many voices have put words to my dream: the passionate and patriotic speeches and announcements of Hajj Amin al-Husseini, the former Mufti of Palestine, one of the most famous political leader during World War 2; the speeches of Ahmad Al-Shukairy, the founder of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation, and its first president; Ahmad Yasin and Khaled Mishal, respectively the founder and political leader of Hamas.

What does it mean: to ‘modernize’? Has there been a time in Saudi Arabia’s recent past when a clear idea of ‘modernity’ has emerged – an idea defined as such by its supporters and criticized as such by those seeking to keep ‘modernity’ at bay? Certainly such times have existed. But what is it that has characterized the idea of modernity which has emerged that has made it authentic, appropriate to the country’s intellectual development, and credible as an aspect of social and political evolution? In short, has it been a natural process borne of social evolution, or something imposed?

What does it mean: to ‘modernize’? Has there been a time in Saudi Arabia’s recent past when a clear idea of ‘modernity’ has emerged – an idea defined as such by its supporters and criticized as such by those seeking to keep ‘modernity’ at bay? Certainly such times have existed. But what is it that has characterized the idea of modernity which has emerged that has made it authentic, appropriate to the country’s intellectual development, and credible as an aspect of social and political evolution? In short, has it been a natural process borne of social evolution, or something imposed?