The East associated with the Arab historically, culturally and economically

[Editor’s note] Dr. Sulaiman Ibrahim Al-Askari is one of the most famous Arab intellectuals. He studied the history of Arabia in Cairo, Egypt and Mancester, U.K., where he got his PhD. in history. Back to his country, Kuwait, he started teaching University of Kuwait, but the cultural projects of his country called him to build and streghthen them for half a century. For almost 15 years he has been the Editor-in-Chief of Al-Arabi magazine, the most famous cultural monthly published in Kuwait, since 1958, and distributed all over the Arab world.

Dr. Sulaiman Al-Askari reading the launching issue of Magazine N.

Interview with Dr. Sulaiman Ibrahim Al-Askari

Al Arabi is one of the most widespread cultural reviews of the arab world, and one with an historical legacy and a great past. Do you feel it a responsibility to be the Editor-in-Chief of such an important publication?

“Just as challenges are growing facing Al-Arabi in an escalating manner, I believe that the responsibility for this Arabic cultural project is growing in a similar way. In a magazine governmentally subsidized, the dilemma is not to survive, but the task becomes a combination of confronting competition and keep abreast of developments. What readers want in Al-Arabi is to meet their requirements, and therefore the responsibility primarily on reading those needs, via direct mail, surveys or field surveys by specialists, and then our responsibility moves to make it happen. Every day widens the amount of aspirations, and the size of responsibilities, side by side.”

Al arabi was founded in 1958, and 4 different Editors-in-Chief followed one after the other. Could you tell me how important it has been for you to follow their legacy, and to which extent you diverged from it?

“Arabic language and Arab cultures, both diverse and dynamic, are the greatest concern for those who were in charge of Al-Arabi magazine, since its establishment. With the expansion of the world, and widened eyes of readers by other media resources than the printed words, and picture published, our attention grew as well, and our photo reports of travels were spread to the whole world, as an example, from the Arab world, to the Muslim world, and then covered the whole world. What was tourism geography has become in-depth history and other sciences analysis. We argued many issues, so you can estimate the quantity of files devoted to issues, they were limited to one or two a year, and today we offer the rate of one every month. Readers are interested in exploring more than one personal point of view. We still take care of our heritage of originality with a similar care of writing skills, as we chase the fast age of developing issues.”

In the 55 years of existence of the review the world has undergone many changes, and every director had to confront with different issues. What are the themes that you think characterize the years of your guidance of the review, and what is the one you give more importance to?

“I could tell you of two sides, editorials, that displays monthly issues of democracy and reform in the Arab world, culture and civilization in the Arab countries, as well as the importance of communication with other cultures. It is also the issues reflected in the other side, which includes two things; content of the magazine , with its intentions and materials, and the topic of the annual Forum of Al Arabi magazine. Arab and world intellectuals gather with a slogan to study its issues that varied, for example: electronic publishing, cultural magazines, dialogue between Arab countries in the two sides of the map, the West in the eyes of Arabs, and Arabs going East, the Arabic language, and the most recent event being held this year, the Forum of celebrating half a century of culture in the Arabia and the Arabian Gulf.”

In the “discourse of the month” you often write about the importance of education in the Arab countries. How would you describe the condition of education in the Arab countries with few words?

“Copy without creation.”

Culture is a very rich concept that with one word encompasses almost all of the aspects of the human life. One of the most famous definitions was given by Geert Hofstede, in his famous statement “Culture is the collective programming of the mind distinguishing the members of one group or category of people from others.” Could you tell me what is your own vision of culture?

“Culture is the impact, or the footsteps. The concept of culture means signs on the road of those who have gone before us and those who come after us. Culture is remaining and in vivo effects and renewable for some people, or a particular nation, or a person in itself, and culture is what left by those as landmarks that pass times.”

Many intellectuals in the Arab countries are debating the concept of “cultural theft,” but at the same time, it looks like culture is not granted the due importance. How would you explain this contradiction?

“Similar slogans are closely related to the affiliated persons, not the creators. There is no doubt that all nations are trying to impose their culture outside their borders, for economic, societal and political reasons, but it may not work if it did not find acceptable. When we get to know the reasons for the spread of the English language, and the rising of Spanish language, leading to attempts to learn unique languages such as Chinese and Korean, we shall know that there are supporting scientific, societal and economic reasons. The problem is that everyone knows the prospects, but the solutions are neglected . I think that the balance of power and domination has its impact, especially you find Arab countries with strong economies depending on alien cultures and foreign languages in their official bodies. The matter, however, is in the hands of decision-makers, and it needs a long breath, and tremendous support.”

One of the most powerful concepts of the last twenty years is that of clash of civilisations, but most of the times, this concept is referring mainly to the clash that should be existing between the Western and the Islamic worlds. What is the cultural approach of the arab world towards Asia? Do you think that the arab countries are somehow closer to Asia than Europe or viceversa?

“Today, Asia represents an important and significant choice. Look at European, African and American countries converging Asian powers, especially with strong economies in the Far East. We let the direction towards the East. The East is associated with us historically , culturally and economically. Today, Eastern culture is brought in all houses along with the tools of technology, so it is important to convergence, not conflict, which was announced only by the West.”

Nowadays the debate on modernity still recalls the division that runs in the mind and the heart of the Arab people, between their heritage and the model that comes from western civilisation. Now that big economies are rising from Asia, does it still makes sense all this debate on western influence? How does arab society conceive his relationship with expanding, fast-developing countries like China or India?

“This question is related with you previous one, as well as the attached answer. It is also important to note that the blocks of foreign workers the population in the Arab countries, especially the group the GCC, are impressive blocks, so I find that dealing with the relationship between the Arabs and Asians must be based on mutual interests, the integration of economies, and respect for the rich heritage and diverse here and there.”

Dr. Sulaiman Al-Askari talks with Kuwaiti Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah(right).

A lot of debate goes on in the Aab countries about modernity and a lot of debate is still going on in the European mass media about modernity and arab societies, but the very notion of modernity as “happiness” has been challenged by some contemporary thinkers as the German sociologist Ulrich Beck, who wrote that the very successes of modernity are menacing not only western countries but the whole world and that modern western society is afraid of the consequences of its achievements. Which risks do you think the arab countries try to prevent the most? This question leads to another one: what do you think it might be the biggest fear of Arab people today?

“Greatest problems facing Arabs are calling for ideas to atomizing the multi-ethnic, diversity of backgrounds, and different religions. The “happiness” is only a convincing task that everyone is looking for. And the fear that surrounds the Arabs comes from these ideas, which are fueled by those who want keeping the sectarian and ethnic conflict, which hinders development and evolution.”

The phenomenon of globalisation is perceived, by some Arab authors, as the most recent form of colonialism carried out by the western world under the disguise of free market. At the same time, in the western society, it is incresingly taking shape a form of opposition of the neo liberistic market theories because they only serve the interest of powerful elites and corporations without any benefit for the population of these same countries. Do you think that there could be the possibility of joining the discontent existing in developing countries, such as the arab ones, and these movements of discontent in Europe and USA?

“Your inquiry has two parts: the first is related to the external mobility, and the second is related to the internal movements. Globalization, free markets, and international trade agreements, all together serve the transnational corporations that move political decisions, in turn. Hence, the association means interest in domestic political movements in these companies, and from behind or in front of major countries, the former colonial parties dominate new markets. The support of the transnational companies given to revolutions, uprisings, and the new rulers, is linked to domination and penetration of our trade, arms trade and energy. The mortgage alliance is for interests, and does not serve but the stronger party.”

“Over its modern history, the West has not permitted any Arab liberal [and democratic] experiment to succeed, since, to start with, it has not allowed an Arab bourgeoisie to grow independent of its control. This is the reason why the west has always sought the explicit alliance of patriarchal and theocratic societies which vehemently oppose secularism.” What is your opinion on this statement by liberal Egyptian writer Ghali Shukri?

“Ghali Shukri’s argument is true, to its fullest, as we see today, via the sponsorship and support offered by those democratic countries to these societies patriarchal theocracy, which is putting on masks of religion to cover backwardness, devote ignorance, and to continue dictatorship.”

One of the comments that impressed me the most on the clash of civilization is one by Dr. Fahmi Jadaan, when he stated that the present situation is not a real clash of civilization, but the manifestation of a bad conscience which is useful to some groups of people in the Western and in the Arab societies, who exploit the state of non-communication to preserve their power. Do you agree with that? If so, do you think that this discourse can be countered at a mass level?

“If we accept that it is just a deformation of consciousness or bad faith, it means that the answer to the previous question has no meaning. We are facing a systematic plans by anti-democratic forces at home, supported by long-term plans of supporting forces outside the Arab countries. The masses can gather around the idea as it can be inspired or manufactured by the leader, and this in turn will work to correct the deformation of the collective consciousness.”

Many Arab thinkers believe that the arab world is not just varied, but fractured in groups that do not cooperate one with the other. What do you think they are the biggest divisions that run today in the arab world?

“As we said: ethnic, sectarian and religious strife, they all serve the differences of political and economic ideas, both internal and external.”

What do you think it will be the destiny of the Arab spring?

“Movement began, and the division introduced itself. What is needed from the driving forces now is more as they are fighting on two fronts; corruption that was attached to the old regiems, and apostasy front that wants to take the whole community backwards.”

Would you tell me what is your opinion of the future of Iraq?

“It is the same, Iraq was unable to deal with the situation more quickly, and faces what we see.”

Since 1981, when the first Free Trade Agreement was signed by both parties, the relationships between EU and GCC have not made any progress, and the constitution of a free trade market area seems to be at a complete stalemate. What do you think is the main reason of such a failure?

“Is not a failure, formal things remain captivated. If we need any agreement fulfilled, between the Gulf states and the European Union, or any other, we have to create the atmosphere internally for it. Perhaps it is linked to the single currency, and the relations between the members, than to an external parties.”