In this landmark work, renowned Moroccan intellectual Abdallah Laroui presents a profound and critical analysis of contemporary Arab culture. Laroui argues that the Arab world is trapped in a state of historical backwardness, unable to genuinely engage with modernity. He dissects the prevailing intellectual currents, from traditionalism to liberal thought, revealing their inadequacies. The author advocates for a radical embrace of historical reason and a break from a romanticized past as the essential path toward cultural renaissance and overcoming the deep-seated crisis facing the Arab-Islamic world. This book is a foundational text for understanding modern Arab thought.