While conventional wisdom points to the Arab-Israeli War of 1967 as the gateway for the founding of the first Arab American national political organization, such advocacy in fact began with the Syrian nationalist movement, which emerged from immigration trends at the turn of the last century. Bringing this long-neglected history to life, The Making of Arab Americans overturns the notion of an Arab population that was too diverse to share common goals. Tracing the forgotten histories of the Free Syria Society, the New Syria Party, the Arab National League, and the Institute of Arab American Affairs, the book restores a timely aspect of our understanding of an area (then called Syria) that comprises modern-day Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, and Palestine. Hani Bawardi examines the numerous Arab American political advocacy organizations that thrived before World War I, showing how they influenced Syrian and Arab nationalism. He further offers an in-depth analysis exploring how World War II helped introduce a new Arab American identity as priorities shifted and the quest for assimilation intensified. In addition, the book enriches our understanding of the years leading to the Cold War by tracing both the Arab National League's transition to the Institute of Arab American Affairs and new campaigns to enhance mutual understanding between the United States and the Middle East. Illustrated with a wealth of previously unpublished photographs and manuscripts, The Making of Arab Americans provides crucial insight for contemporary dialogues.

"After a century of ignorance, Hani Bawardi has corrected the record... The Arabic-speaking world was circulating news, ideals, and prominent leaders in every field since the mid-1800s... Rich narrative introduces the founders of these organizations, their goals and passions, and their efforts to help their brothers and sisters in the old country while attempting to influence the political future of their ancestral lands... The stories and characters in this book are fascinating." -- Anny Bakalian, Associate Director, Middle East and Middle Eastern American Center, the Graduate Center, City University of New York

About the Author
HANI J. BAWARDI is Assistant Professor of History at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, where he has contributed to the development of the university's first minor in Arab American studies.


Book Information
ISBN 9781477307526
Author Hani J. Bawardi
Format Paperback
Page Count 398
Imprint University of Texas Press
Publisher University of Texas Press
Weight(grams) 540g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 28mm