The term 'Siege of Time' expresses the current Arab situation and the cultural stance of Arab culture trapped in time between the past, present, and future. The past pulls at it, where it still dwells; the future beckons, drawing it forward; and the present is hard to diagnose in response to the question: What stage of history are we living in? Breaking the siege of time can only be achieved by rebuilding the past to liberate from its captivity, taking a stance on the future instead of rushing towards it, and analyzing the immediate reality rather than escaping from it.

Originally, the first part was to focus on the past, the second on the future, and the third on the present, but the academic material dictated its structure: the first part became 'Problems', closer to the present; the second 'Thinkers', closer to the recent past; and the third 'Sciences', reaching further into the past. The future was postponed to the fourth part about 'Western Culture'.

Publishing house: Al Dar Al Arabiya lil Uloom/Lebanon

Number of Pages: 654

Year of publication: 2007