Human development challenges in Arab societies
The overall socio-economic structure in Arab countries is in dire need of progressive change. For at present "..the distribution of power, which sometimes coincides with the distribution of wealth, has had an effect on the morals of societies and individuals. The pursuit of personal gain, the preference for the private over the public good, social and moral corruption, the absence of honesty and accountability and many other illnesses, are all related in one way or another to a skewed distribution of power and the resulting social disparities. Justice, before all else, has been the victim of this state of affairs" (p.141). These disparities are almost certain to lead to a complete undermining of all and any reform efforts that do not offer viable democratic development alternatives to the status quo. There has been an erosion of " ...a number of values and societal incentives that would have been helpful in enhancing creativity and the acquisition and dissemination of knowledge" (p.142). And consequently, "...indifference, political apathy and a sense of futility are becoming dangerously common among broad segments of the populace" (ibid.).
It is not the purpose of this short essay to review the 2003 AHDR. The pints mentioned here should however serve as indicators to the fundamental development obstacles much of the Arab world today is faced with. But it also hints at opportunities that if pursued, appear to offer much promise for improving political and economic situations that are at best, stagnant. Indeed, a strong desire for knowledge and good governance in the Arab world exists. Supporting Arab societies to embark on a self-driven course of inclusive democratization and developmental advancement requires equally democratic, development-minded partners. For obvious reasons, the US occupiers of Iraq and other US forces throughout the Arab regions are the least desirable partners for freedom and development. Many of the lay troops originate from the marginalized, impoverished class and at times need to be classified socially dysfunctional. The "top-brass" more often than not is deeply rooted in conservative, pseudo-patriotic and indeed socially reactionary ideologies. Such twisted mindsets are incapable of democratic debate; they are improbable proponents of political emancipation and liberation. The spiral of violence in Iraq today increasingly resembles the senseless carnage between Palestinians and Israelis. In both instances dialogue and honest debate have been abandoned long ago. There is little if any evidence of parties seeking knowledge of oneself as well as of the other, in
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