An academic seminar exploring the intellectual and civilisational project of Islamic thinker Hamed Rabie took place at Ahmed Bin Mohammed Military College on Thursday morning, 22 October 2026. Held in the meeting room on the first floor, the seminar was presented by Professor Khaled Issa Al-Adwan, Professor of International Relations at the College.
Intellectual Development
The speaker traced Rabie’s intellectual development from his upbringing in Egypt to his pursuit of higher education in Rome and his subsequent academic experience in Paris. He explained how Rabie’s engagement with European society deepened his questions about identity and the relationship between the self and the other. These experiences encouraged him to compare Arab and Islamic contexts with European ones, drawing on his own intellectual and cultural foundations.
A Civilizational Perspective
Professor Al-Adwan noted that Rabie’s body of work included more than 45 books, enriching political thought from an Arab and Islamic perspective. He explained that a central question shaped Rabie’s project: whether it was possible to establish an independent political science grounded in Islamic thought.
Drawing on his specialization in political science, Rabie advocated developing the discipline’s methods and strengthening their independence from Western models. His aim was to build an approach that reflected the distinctive character of Arab and Islamic civilization.
Can We Become Producers of Knowledge?
Addressing this question, the speaker explained that Rabie sought to reinterpret Islamic heritage through a contemporary approach that preserved its intellectual foundations while engaging with present concerns.
He highlighted Rabie’s call to “not allow others to think for us,” describing it as a cornerstone of his civilizational project. This principle emphasized intellectual independence and the ability to produce knowledge. The speaker connected it to Rabie’s efforts to formulate an independent political theory rooted in Arab and Islamic thought, intended to strengthen the capacity for action and influence in politics and international relations.
A Project for Civilizational Renewal
The speaker outlined several foundations of Rabie’s project for civilizational renewal: strategic control, a comprehensive understanding of current realities, the identification of core interests, and the capacity to act. He also discussed key concepts within the project, including action, vision, relationships, a clear sense of purpose, and an understanding of others.
Professor Al-Adwan explained that Rabie’s project was reformist in character and grounded in Islamic heritage. It sought to develop an Arab and Islamic vision that addressed contemporary issues and needs while preserving its intellectual and civilizational foundations.
