Donald M. Reid. Lawyers and Politics in the Arab World, 1880-1960. Istanbul; Bibliotheca Islamica, 1981.
An examination of the evolution of the legal profession in the Arab world, tracing its roots back to European colonialism. The presence of European powers in the region fostered the development of legal systems, as local elites began to adopt and adapt European legal frameworks. After World War I, lawyers emerged as defenders of local interests, resisting European encroachments and asserting a sense of confidence, even though they were not part of the ruling elite.
The book highlights the central role lawyers played in the fight against colonialism, serving as key figures in movements for national independence and political reform. However, once colonial powers were ousted and military groups came to power in the post-independence era, the influence of lawyers began to wane. As political power shifted away from legal institutions, economic considerations took precedence, and lawyers found themselves marginalized. The legal profession, once a powerful force for political change, saw a sharp decline in relevance as military regimes consolidated power, leaving lawyers increasingly sidelined in shaping the political landscape of the Arab world.
This book offers a critical analysis of the changing role of lawyers in the Arab world, illustrating the complex intersection of law, politics, and power in a region where legal rights were often eclipsed by economic and military concerns.