Abdul Rahman al-Kawakibi was a prominent Syrian thinker and reformist born in 1855 in Aleppo. He is best known for his advocacy of Arab nationalism and his criticism of Ottoman rule. Al-Kawakibi's writings emphasized the importance of political and social reform in the Arab world, and he sought to inspire a sense of unity among Arab people. His most notable work, The Nature of Despotism, explores the effects of tyranny on society and calls for the establishment of a just government. Al-Kawakibi's ideas contributed to the intellectual foundation of the Arab Awakening and influenced future generations of Arab leaders and thinkers.