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This paper will try to discuss how and to what extent Arabian national cultures
(as Middle East countries) can sustain their identity, and keep their economic
flourishing locally; within a globally extended economy that generates pow-
erful forces on the discrepancy of local cultures worldwide. We will examine
whether globalization is or not a negative economic force for communities,
and what benefit can they generate if those communities focus on a desired
outcome and concentrate on providing a specific type of product or service
that may reserve their identity and protect their growth and development.
For those who want to gain a rigorous understanding about the real structure
of the Arab community, they must examine issues ranging from the perva-
sive influence of religion and believes on society, to the political and economic
consequences of the constant state of confrontation between Arab and the
various imperialism waves passed over the region, from 1914 Arab revolu-
tion against Othman Empire, to the Oslo agreement signed in 1992 between
Israel and Palestine, while navigating the history through 1948 Israeli occu-
pation for the Palestine and the constant Israeli Arab conflict, to 1952 revo-
lution in Egypt against England, to last war between Israel and ‘Hezb Allah’
in Lebanon. Edward Said, (1995) briefly illustrates the harsh affects of Oslo
agreement on the region; “Israel has achieved all of its tactical and strategic
objectives at the expense of nearly every proclaimed principle of Arab and Pales-
tinian nationalism and struggle. Thus Israel has gained recognition, legitimacy,
acceptance from the Arabs, without in effect conceding sovereignty over Arab
land, including annexed East Jerusalem, captured illegally by war.”
Consequently, the Arab societies suffer vital obstacles that hurdled its devel-
opment, chiefly the disarray of geographically separating related-states. One
can attain better understanding of Arab cultural structure by focusing on their
lack of security, Arab nationalism, the influence of religion, male-dominated
social and political hierarchy, political repression, technological research, suf-
ficient medical care, social and psychological alienation, as well as socio-eco-
nomic barriers separating urban and rural dwellers. Peace forms the resolu-
tion key for any positive change in the area,“But Israeli elites have failed to
turn the idea of the New Middle East (NME) into a hegemonic concept, as this
attempted liberal hegemony invoked a Polanyian ‘double movement’ that under-
mined the peace process.” Comments Guy Ben-Porat, PhD. at the Ben-Gurion
University, Israel. 3
The report remarks that while oil income has transformed the landscapes of
some Arab countries, the society remains “richer than it is developed.” Pro-
ductivity is declining, research and development are weak or absent at all,
science and technology are dormant. Actually, intellectuals flee a stultifying or
sometimes repressive political and social environment towards the free world
of the west, where they can perform and erect better future. “Sadly, the Arab
world is largely depriving itself of the creativity and productivity of half its citi-
zens,” the report concluded, relating to the issue of de-emphasizing women’s
role in society.7 And here we wonder; what worse results than those of our
isolation may globalization or any other threaten power bring to our deprived
societies!?
Political topography
There are some very terrifying signals that are specific to Arab countries and
not other regions. For the Palestinians in particular, the report says, human
development is all but impossible under Israeli occupation. Moreover, the Is-
raeli-Palestinian conflict “has been a cause and a pretext for delaying demo-
cratic change.” Then came another critical issue; the attacks on the United
8
States (which –to this paper’s concern- plays a major role in the globalization
process), giving researchers unexpected new relevance as explanations for
Arab anger against the West are being sought, that Arabs often question the
United States’ commitment to promoting democracy in the Middle East, argu-
ing its policies are inconsistent and even hypocritical. In addition to its unjus-
tified and boundless support to Israel in all aspect, the USA’s other prominent
concern is the availability of oil at stable prices. Those issues launched a wave
of hostility against the USA in most Arab and Islamic regions, which extended
against other western countries that support Israel too.
In ‘Globalization and Its Discontents’, Stiglitz (2002) pointed out that “despite
all the promises of globalization, the developing nations of the world didn’t seem
to be, well, developing.” What seems to be the problem?
“One of the most important economic issues that the hemisphere now faces is
a mix of cooperation and disagreement on energy trade.”11 remarked Sidney
Weintraub & Simon Chair, at the Center for Strategic and International Stud-
ies, Washington, DC. As it can be generated from the above conference re-
sults, as a ‘Long Term’ vs. ‘Short Term’ orientation, the ideological back-
ground of the Middle East has to draw upon the ideology of globalization and
effort to share its fundamental tenets of rationality, professionalism and vir-
tues of market economy.
As the NIC 2020 Project’s Report emphasizes,13 the rise of China and India
will be a major trend both internationally and in the region, impelling these
two ascendant powers to play a growing political and economic role in the
Middle East. The emerging substitute for the USA and Western products in
In his article ‘New player in global investing: India Inc.’ at the ‘The Christian
Science Monitor’, Mark Sappenfield, explains how Indian firms are venturing
(regional) beyond the subcontinent with conviction. India is going global, and
the main reason is that Indian companies managed to supply the capital they
need. “While the growth in the domestic market here has helped, international
investors have provided the real fiscal fuel.”14 He remarked.
“It appears that it is better to be a cow in Europe than to be a poor person in a de-
veloping country,” writes Nobel Prize-winner Joseph Stiglitz in his new book,
Making Globalization Work.16
Global Politics
Can globalization be a politically opening exercise? Some participants in the
(NIC) argued that the vitality of expanding production, combined with the in-
creasing role of performers like China that are eager to de-emphasize the im-
portance of political liberalization as an international issue, is likely to reduce
the international pressure on agreements for political reform. However, oth-
ers remarked that the international investment that globalization brings often
caries with it international business standards and practices of transparency
and accountability.
I think for counties like Palestine and its neighboring Arab countries with
few resources and fewer skilled workforces, within such a framework, will be
forced to compete with other countries in a framework of rules and agree-
There is widespread and significant popular desire for more free, open, partic-
ipatory, and accountable government, but the desire does not encompass the
full range of rights and liberties considered essential to liberal democracy. Our
nations stay so far from democratic and open systems of communications in a
global sense, unless a basic, dramatic change happen in the mentality and be-
lieves of our generations, to the degree that enables us to challenge instead
retreat, endure instead flee, cooperate instead seclude. Global systems may
be the shaman who led to the brightness, … who benefits from the free move-
ment of ideas, goods, people and capital? The answer definitely is: The vast
majority of the world’s population, mainly those, who enormously lacks it.
“The problems facing mankind can only be solved on the basis of universally
recognised principles and norms of international law and in a fair and rational
world order.” Hu Jintao & Vladimir Putin, (2005).
When academics write about sports, they are capable of accomplishing the
impossible, when it comes to application, the mere mention of globalization
generates anger, discord, and accusations; sucking all the pleasure and fun
from the spectacle. While Skeptics can say unrealistic days of globalization
appear to be over; its promises of the simple spread of markets would melt
poverty, dissolve dictatorships, and integrate diverse cultures proved to be
false. A revived, inspirited Chinese adult performer would proudly yell; on-
ward …, it is the epoch of China.
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