Shades of Sulh: The Rhetorics of Arab-Islamic Reconciliation

by Rasha Diab

Overview

Winner, ‘ CCCC Outstanding Book Award

Sulh is a centuries-old Arab-Islamic peacemaking process. In Shades of Sulh, Rasha Diab explores the possibilities of the rhetoric of sulh, as it is used to resolve intrapersonal, interpersonal, communal, national, and international conflicts, and provides cases that illustrate each of these domains. Diab demonstrates the adaptability and range of sulh as a ritual and practice that travels across spheres of activity (juridical, extra-juridical, political, diplomatic), through time (medieval, modern, contemporary), and over geopolitical borders (Cairo, Galilee, and Medina). Together, the cases prove the flexibility of sulh in the discourse of peacemaking—and that sulh has remarkable rhetorical longevity, versatility, and richness. Shades of Sulh sheds new light on rhetorics of reconciliation, human rights discourse, and Arab-Islamic rhetorics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780822964018
Publisher:	University of Pittsburgh Press
Publication date:	04/26/2016
Series:	Composition, Literacy, and Culture , #163
Edition description:	1
Pages:	264
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 8.70(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Rasha Diab is assistant professor of rhetoric and writing and affiliate in the departments of English and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Texas at Austin.

Editorial Reviews

This in-depth examination of sulh rhetoric is much needed and makes an essential contribution to the study of sulh as an indigenous and homegrown peacemaking tool. Rooted in Arab and Islamic cultural and religious sources, sulh indeed can be seen as 'the gift of possibility' for many of our current challenges in responding to conflicts.

Mohammed Abu-Nimer

A rich, important, and fascinating study. Troubling programmatic accounts of conflict resolution and challenging traditional approaches to the study of Arab and Arab-Islamic discourse, Diab offers a groundbreaking investigation into the initiation, performance, and stakes of sulh. She sheds crucial light on the deep and complex relationship between peacemaking, transitional justice, and reconciliation. Her work deserves close consideration by scholars of rhetoric, politics, Islamic studies, law, anthropology, and human rights.

University of South Carolina and Institute for Jus Erik Doxtader

Rasha Diab undertakes a major comparative project, one that travels through centuries and across cultures to engage questions of violence and peace, justice and reconciliation, and the ways in which communities maintain shared values. In doing so, she judiciously undertakes the construction of significant, new rhetorical relationships.

Rhetoric & Public Affairs Arabella Lyon

A rich, important, and fascinating study. Troubling programmatic accounts of conflict resolution and challenging traditional approaches to the study of Arab and Arab-Islamic discourse, Diab offers a groundbreaking investigation into the initiation, performance, and stakes of sulh. She sheds crucial light on the deep and complex relationship between peacemaking, transitional justice, and reconciliation. Her work deserves close consideration by scholars of rhetoric, politics, Islamic studies, law, anthropology, and human rights.”
—Erik Doxtader, University of South Carolina and Institute for Justice and Reconciliation


“This in-depth examination of sulh rhetoric is much needed and makes an essential contribution to the study of sulhas an indigenous and homegrown peacemaking tool. Rooted in Arab and Islamic cultural and religious sources, sulh indeed can be seen as ‘the gift of possibility’ for many of our current challenges in responding to conflicts.”
—Mohammed Abu-Nimer, American University, International Peace and Conflict Resolution


"Rasha Diab undertakes a major comparative project, one that travels through centuries and across cultures to engage questions of violence and peace, justice and reconciliation, and the ways in which communities maintain shared values. In doing so, she judiciously undertakes the construction of significant, new rhetorical relationships."
—Arabella Lyon, Rhetoric & Public Affairs

From the Publisher