Tarek Heggy

Tarek Heggy
Native name طارق حجى
Born (1950-10-12) October 12, 1950
Port Said, Egypt
Nationality Egyptian
Education Ain Shams University, University of Geneva
Occupation Writer, intellectual, international petroleum strategist
Website http://www.tarek-heggy.com

Tarek Heggy (Arabic: طارق حجى‎, IPA: [ˈtˤɑːɾˤeʔ ˈħeɡɡi]; born October 12, 1950) is an Egyptian liberal author, political thinker and international petroleum strategist. Heggy is one of Egypt’s more prominent authors on the subject of Egypt’s need for political reform.[1] His extensive writings advocate the values of modernity, democracy, tolerance, and women's rights in the Middle East – advancing them as universal values essential to the region's progress. He has lectured at universities throughout the world and various international institutions and think tanks, such as the Heritage Foundation, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and the Council on Foreign Relations.

Heggy's main themes are the need for economic, political, cultural and educational reforms in Egypt and the Middle East. His liberal voice is part of the small but growing minority that calls for self-criticism and massive reforms and that frankly admits the failures of the political ideologies/dogmas dominating Egypt and the Arab world. Moreover, this voice calls the conspiracy theories and overblown rhetoric that pervade the region signs of a cultural crisis that needs resolution. Finally, Heggy advocates the imperative need to develop a fair political ending to the Arab-Israeli conflict to enable all societies in the Middle East to move towards a pro-active phase of economic and social development.[2]

According to Bernard Lewis, a Cleveland E. Dodge Professor Emeritus of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University, Heggy is a "courageous and distinctive voice from Egypt" and provides "a candid and provocative inside view of the current problems of the Arab world." Heggy has participated in the BBC/Doha Debate on the Separation of Mosque and State.[3]

Early life and education

Heggy studied law (LL.B & LL.M) at Ain Shams University in Cairo, followed by higher degrees in Modern Management Techniques from the International Management Institute of Geneva University. From 1973 till 1979 he was associate professor of Law at Constantine University/Algeria and the University of Fes/Morocco.[4]

Career

In July 1979, Heggy joined a major gas and oil company as an attorney (1979–1985) and went on to become deputy to the Chairman of its Egypt branch (1985–1988). In 1988 he became its Chairman and CEO, from which he resigned on July 1, 1996.

Heggy participated in establishing (in 2000) the "Chair of Coptic Studies" at the American University in Cairo[5] as well as the Tarek Heggy scholarship for Jewish Studies at the University of Toronto.[6]

Heggy received the 2008 Grinzane Cavour Award for cultural and literary achievement[7] as well as the Tenth Anniversary Award Recipients/Arab World Books' Writers.[8]

Bibliography

Since April 1978, Tarek Heggy has written 18 books In Arabic (plus 12 in English, French & Italian).

Books in English:

Books in Arabic:

Books in French:

Books in Italian:

See also

References

  1. ↑ "2. Interview with Tarek Heggy at CIDT [1]". arabwestreport.info.
  2. ↑ "A Reformer in Egypt". Hoover Institution.
  3. ↑ "This House believes in the separation of mosque and state". thedohadebates.com.
  4. ↑ "Tarek Heggy". arabworldbooks.com.
  5. ↑ http://www.aucegypt.edu/giving/supportstudy/Pages/Professorships.aspx
  6. ↑ "Jewish Studies". utoronto.ca.
  7. ↑ Al Waref Institute (3 November 2008). "First-ever Arab Intellectual Wins Grinzane Cavour Award". prnewswire.com.
  8. ↑ "Tenth Anniversary Award Recipients/Arab World Books' Writers". arabworldbooks.com.

Further reading

External links

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