Robert Springborg (CIV)
To assert there is a dignity deficit in the Arab world is to risk being accused of being what Edward Said labeled Orientalist, the essence of which is prejudice against the Arab "Other." It is nevertheless a risk worth taking to better understand, explain, and hopefully thereby to help ameliorate widespread discontent and turmoil in that region.
Evidence of an alleged dignity deficit is both historical and attitudinal. As for the former, it is imputed from the series of dashed expectations that have afflicted Arab countries since the imperial era began over two centuries ago. Modern Arab history is a tale of repeated setbacks, which understandably have undermined Arabs' "state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect," the definition of dignity. The sorrowful historical sequence commenced with colonialism, succeeded by the brief euphoria of national liberation, the promised fruits of which proved to be more bitter than sweet. For the radical newly independent Arab states repeated demonstrations of Israeli military superiority undermined their leaders' claims to restore and defend Arab honor. On the home front, Arab socialism produced not shared wealth. but economic decay coupled with political authoritarianism. Political Islam arose in the early 1970s in reaction to those failures. It promised liberation from the semi-secular dictatorial regimes coupled with regeneration of national military and other capacities. On finally coming to power in Eygpt in 2012, its Muslim Brother champions demonstrated woeful incompetence, inducing a majority of citizens to welcome the coup which overthrew the Brothers a year later. Since then, the motor force of Arab economies–hydrocarbon exports–has faltered.
Photo by Fredrik Ohlander on Unsplash
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