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| Call for freedom of expression to promote individual ingenuity |  | | Gulf Times - 5/10/2011 | | Experts on Middle Eastern politics have called for sweeping reforms regarding freedom of expression and education in order to maximise the potential of popular participation in society and individual ingenuity.
Speaking at a panel discussion on the “Political Future of the Middle East” at the Doha Forum yesterday, Mohamed al-Rumaihi, a professor of political sociology at Kuwait University, criticised the oppressive and uninspired nature of education in the region, saying that it “does not promote a positive attitude to life.”
A lack of critical and independent thinking skills meant that many engineers and doctors graduating from the region’s universities are “not qualified,” said al-Rumaihi. Rumaihi also said that public discourse needs to shed censorship, both externally and self imposed due to fear of persecution. Al-Rumaihi cited the example of citizens using pseudonyms on online forums, like Twitter, specifically to protect their identity while they state their opinions as an example of such censorship through fear.
His criticisms were not limited to governments, however. Egyptian journalists, said Rumaihi, used to be afraid of criticising their government, but now they are afraid to criticise the revolution. He also warned that religion and religious-based parties will dominate elections as Arab people have “not been able to dismantle fanatical discourse.”
“If we want to build a new future, first we must build a new past,” said al-Rumaihi. “History is overburdened with fanaticism.”
Khalid Abdulla-Janahi, Group CEO of Dar al-Maal al-Islami, echoed al-Rumaihi’s criticism of the repressive nature of many Arab societies, saying that lessons from the past have not been learned and people are still not allowed to ask key questions of the authorities.According to Janahi, Egypt’s short-term economic outlook is bleak as its capital reserves will soon be depleted. Decades of high-level corruption have robbed the country and its people of the benefits of economic growth. He is, however, optimistic that investment from and co-operation with the country’s Arab neighbours will help Egypt overcome its financial difficulties, and that a merit based economic system will promote entrepreneurship.
“Meritocracy,” said Janahi, “has to be the way forward. There is no point in education if meritocracy does not exist.” Autocratic leadership and corruption have “not allowed people to be entrepreneurs and innovators,” said Janahi.
Baroness Elizabeth Symons, former British Minister of State for Trade, also said that in her experience in the British government she noted a distinct failure of Arab countries to trade with each other. A number of the panelists remarked that problems shared by one country will eventually be shared by its neighbours, and greater co-operation and stronger ties were necessary for mutual benefit.
Eric Raoult, a former French minister, hailed Qatar’s aspirations towards “modernity without giving up its identity,” making it a “model for the Middle East.” Raoult said that “in one generation Qatar has become a beacon,” and a “laboratory for globalisation.” |
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