Arab societies are drifting in a turbulent sea of changes — frightening political, cultural, religious and social upheavals — and are unable reach the shore. Why? First, because they are governed by dependent, subsidiary and unstable political systems that implement the policies of others. Second, because they are no more than laboratory experiments, if not lab rats, since they are required to change their lifestyle, culture, orientation and beliefs every decade in order to conform to the desires of foreign watchdogs.
Half a century ago, which is a very short period in a nation’s life, some superpowers who control our region geographically, demographically, culturally and in terms of information, issued apparently binding decrees on some of our countries to have strict Islamic rule and rigid educational curricula, thinking that was the only way to stop emerging Arab regimes from following socialist and nationalist ideologies acquired from the Soviets, which could threaten their interests in the region.
In other words, the Islamic-oriented, socialist or nationalist Arab societies were dictated by external factors rather than internal needs.
To illustrate further, a certain regime established an “Islamic” state just to satisfy and support its American and European lords, while another instituted a socialist system at the request of its Soviet masters. Such oppressive impositions are contrary to the nature of the local societies and their human inclinations.
After the end of the Cold War, international alliances changed and a unipolar world emerged. Arab societies had to turn 180 degrees to keep pace with their new American lords, who were no longer satisfied with the regional social systems they had helped create and influenced during the second half of the 20th century.
For this reason, Arab societies have been lost for many years in a sea of chaos and turmoil, shaken by terrible social and political tremors.
Some Arab regimes have been trying for more than 50 years to build, as they claim, communities with an Islamic identity. They have devoted enormous budgets to this effort, established foundations through media outlets and “Islamised” educational systems. In fact, the aim of all this was not establishment of Muslim communities but to repel any encroachment by communism, which was competing with American hegemony.
This purported Islamic society emerged at the height of the Soviet-American conflict in Afghanistan to provide the so-called Afghan Mujahideen with Arab fighters to expel “the Soviet invader.”
It was later revealed that some Arab and US intelligence agencies were behind this dirty game, which claimed the lives of thousands of naive Arab young men, who were suddenly terrorists instead of Mujahideen in the eyes of their makers.
The first and foremost goal of this well-planned “faith” campaign was to expel Soviet occupiers from Afghanistan in order for the Americans to replace them in an organised manner by playing a chess-like game in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Jihadist Islam is no longer required after America got rid of its traditional enemy (communism). Therefore, communities that had thrived on Islamic fundamentalism for decades must now be dismantled and replaced with new Islamic societies desired by the West.
No wonder, then, that some Western institutes are making plans to promote a soft Islam compatible with the new US aims in the Arab world. This new Islam is a 180-degree shift from the Islam that was required during the days of the Cold War. It is a “liberal Islam” that accepts all Western proposals, concepts and values and promotes their dissemination and implementation in the region.
The result of this is the rise of the “new Arab Islamists” who are leading the campaign for ridding the Arab and Islamic world of the old fundamentalist virus by preaching “tolerance, love and democracy.”
Who is, then, authorised and capable of carrying out the task of deconstructing and reconstructing Arab societies? Well, it is the media, but not any kind, through useless entertainment that aims at spreading ignorance, arousing base instincts, clearing minds of useful thoughts and impeding awareness, especially since the task at hand is daunting, particularly in countries that have been carrying the torch of fundamentalist Islam.
It is not easy to redirect orthodox religious views except through cheap satellite channels, which are spreading like wild mushrooms in the Arab world, invading Arab minds and hearts with all kinds of fare, from songs, dubbed local and foreign television series and movies, scantily clad women, dancers and singers, and satanic shows aired under the pretext of artistic innovation. In the past, they wanted us to be Muslim fundamentalists, and then all of a sudden they expect us to become dancers, singers and musicians. And we should always be ready to turn into jihadists again, if needed.
For how long are we willing to remain societies ready for mantling and dismantling at the bidding of external powers? Isn’t it time to acquire our own culture, emerging from our nature, history, heritage, dreams and hopes? Of course, it is. However, this will only be achieved when we have governments and regimes that are chosen internally, not imposed by outsiders. As the proverb says: “Beast, try to survive until grass grows again!”
The author is a columnist and presenter on Al Jazeera television channel
