Tribalism and its Perils

Description

This work attempts to study our reality from a perspective different from the traditional approaches followed throughout much of the twentieth century. It examines what has been silenced or ignored in the methodology of this reality. By this, we mean examining the deep structures that have remained unchanged throughout most projects for building national entities and programs for human and urban development and progress. Therefore, these major efforts have not yielded all that was hoped for; on the contrary, the current Arab landscape reveals a state of stagnation, if not regression. By deep structures, we mean the continued entrenchment of the triad of tribalism, fundamentalist jurisprudence, and despotism within the socio-political structures. In our view, this triad constitutes the greatest obstacle to building inclusive national entities and achieving major productive development projects undertaken by and for the benefit of all. This triad does not recognize any unifying national entity that transcends it; rather, it consumes it, transforming it into itself. It is not concerned with liberating the individual and building their capabilities, but rather with their subjugation and loyalty. Recognizing, empowering, and unleashing the potential for growth and contribution are fundamental to any comprehensive national development project. This is what all modern renaissances, both in the West and the East, have taught us, as they have successfully confronted and eradicated this triad of problems. On a practical, large-scale level, this work complements the analysis of both the “psychology of the oppressed” and the “wasted individual” on an individual level, diagnosing our reality and ultimately exploring ways to build a renaissance and achieve a prominent place on the world stage.