DOCSLIB.ORG

The Ummah and Global Challenges 1

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Ummah and Global Challenges 1 The Ummah and Global Challenges 1 IPRI PAPER 12 COPYRIGHT @ ISLAMABAD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE ISBN 969-8721-18-5 2006 THE UMMAH AND GLOBAL CHALLENGES RE-ORGANIZING THE OIC DR MUHAMMAD AHSAN 2 IPRI Paper PREFACE The „change‟ in global affairs is a continuous phenomenon. Thus, it is not new that centres of power have been changing from country to country and region to region. However, what is new is the velocity of this change. After the fall of the Soviet Union in general and the events of 9/11 in particular, the world has witnessed major changes within a short span of time. While on the one hand these changes have made the Untied States the sole super power of the world, on the other they have seriously affected the image, solidarity and integrity of the Muslim World. Therefore, in one way or another and directly or indirectly, this situation has adversely affected nearly five dozen Muslim countries and 1.5 billion Muslims all over the world. It is widely argued that the two major internal factors responsible for the sorry state of Ummatic affairs are underdevelopment and a lack of unity. Although, in this context, a lot has been written in the recent past, no comprehensive document has been produced so far covering all major challenges faced by the Ummah as well as their possible solutions. Thus, in this context, the present study is a unique effort. By covering various aspects of the issues of Ummatic underdevelopment, globalisation, the geo-political and religio-cultural situation, Islamophobia, human insecurity and Ummatic defence, the report presents a comprehensive analysis of the situation. Apart from this, there are at least five major points which make this document a unique effort in this field. Firstly, the report is based on in-depth statistical and factual analysis. Secondly, data is acquired from a large number of authentic sources. Thirdly, it is designed in such a way that the spectrum of its audience is broad. Fourthly, it discusses the re-organisation of the OIC – an extremely important issue which has never been tackled in such a way as is discussed in this study. The last chapter presents a model and a long-term strategy to strengthen the OIC. Last, but not least, it must be mentioned that the analysis is based on the pre- situation of the recent economic blockade of the Palestinian government, devastating attacks on the Lebanon as well as a sea-blockade of this country - all committed by Israel. In this context, Muslim countries see themselves paralysed and the role of the OIC as shameful. In these circumstances, the conclusion of the present study suggests the pooling of Ummatic financial resources and the establishment of a joint security system for all Muslim countries. I have known Dr Muhammad Ahsan for several years. He has extensive experience of research and teaching and is a Fellow of Royal Society of Art (UK). His main field of interest is the Muslim World in which he has The Ummah and Global Challenges 3 published extensively. Dr Ahsan is also an important contributor to IPRI Journal. We are thankful to him for offering this study to be published by IPRI. We hope that the present research will attract a variety of readers ranging from academicians to policy-makers. Furthermore, this thought provoking document will also provide a concrete base for discussion and research. From its readers, IPRI would like to receive any comment or suggestion in this regard. Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema September 27, 2006 4 IPRI Paper CONTENTS List of Tables iii Abbreviations iv Introduction 1 CHAPTER - I The Muslim World: Globalisation and Under-development What is Globalisation? 8 From Colonisation to Globalisation 11 The Past and the Present 15 The Ummah: Integrated-Disintegrated 19 Human (Under-)Development in the Muslim World 22 „Education for All‟: A Reality or Just a Slogan? 26 Human Deprivation 27 Human Capital 29 CHAPTER - II Islamophobia: Another Cold War Clash of Civilisation or Promotion of Global Instability? 33 Global Informal Education: The Media and the Promotion of (In-)Tolerance 41 Propaganda Model 44 Distortion of Realities 45 Islam or „Islamophobia‟? 47 Beyond Islamophobia: Muslims and Christians Worship Different Gods? 52 Why is Islamophobia so Fashionable? 54 CHAPTER - III Human (In-)Security and the Global Financial Spiral What is Human Security? 58 Human (In-)Security and the Muslim World 60 Human Insecurity or a Clash of Civilisations? Religio-Social and Economic Perspectives 61 Global Financial System – Another Version of Human Insecurity 67 The Ummah and Global Challenges 5 State of Debt Burden: Muslim and Non-Muslim Countries 71 Debt Servicing 73 International Aid 76 CHAPTER - IV Intra-Ummatic Trade: Myth or Reality? What is Wrong with the WTO Policies and Global Trade? 80 Who is Taking Advantage of Global Trade? 83 The State of Intra-Ummatic Trade 90 A Way Forward 91 Islamic Economic Union 95 CHAPTER - V Defence and Strategic Issues The Volatile Ummah 101 The Propaganda War 105 Global Instability and Spending on Arms 108 Uni-Polar World and US-Israel Defence Cooperation 111 Indo-Israel Defence Cooperation 116 The Nuclear Issue and the Muslim World 120 The Weak Ummah and Re-drafting the Global Map 125 CHAPTER - VI Addressing Modern Challenges and Re-organising the OIC The Under-Developed Muslim World 129 Globalisation or Recolonisation? 131 Islamic Approach to Globalisation and the OIC 134 The OIC and Modern Challenges 136 Re-organising the OIC 144 Ummatic Global Vision 149 6 IPRI Paper LIST OF TABLES 1.1. Population Growth Rates for Various Countries and Regions 22 1.2. Comparison of the Muslim and the Non-Muslim Countries with Similar Income but Different Levels of Human Development 25 1.3. Cross Country Comparison of Educational Achievement 27 1.4. Human Deprivation – Cross Country Comparison of Low and High Income Muslim and Non-Muslim Countries 29 1.5. Human Capital – Cross Country Comparison of Muslim and Non-Muslim Countries with Respect to Education, Health and Research and Development 30 3.1. Human (In-)Security – A Comparative Out Look of Indonesia and the Philippines 61 3.2. Cross Country Comparison of Indebtedness of the Muslim and the Non-Muslim Countries 73 3.3 An Overview of Comparative Economic Systems 75 3.4. State of Government Revenue, Expenditure and Debt Servicing 76 4.1. A Snapshot of the Top-500 Companies of the World 85 4.2. Rank of Countries with Respect to Owing the Top 500 Companies of the World 87 4.3. Growth Rate of Trade (goods & services) of the Low Income Muslim and the Non-Muslim Countries 88 4.4. The Arab States and the Structure of Global Trade 89 5.1. Military Expenditures of the Top-10 Countries of the World 109 5.2. A Comparison of Military Power of Israel vs. Syria and Iran and, India vs. Pakistan 111 The Ummah and Global Challenges 7 ABBREVIATIONS ABM Anti- Ballistic Missile ACC Arab Cooperation Council ACM Arab Common Market AFTA Arab Free Trade area AMU Arab Maghreb Union ASEAN Association of South East Asian Nations BCCI Bank of Credit and Commerce International BJP Bharatiya Janata Party CAAT Campaign Against the Arms Trade CACEU Central African Customs and Economic Union CAFORD Catholic Agency for Overseas Development CAIR Council on American-Islamic Relations CAR Central Asian Republics COMCEC Standing Committee for Commercial and Economic Cooperation CPI Corruption Perceptions Index CTBT Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty D-8 Developing Eight (Muslim Countries) ECO Economic Cooperation Organisation EFF Extended Fund Facility ESAF Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility EU European Union FAS Federation of American Scientists FMA Foreign Military Assistance FMF Foreign Military Financing GATS General Agreement on Trade in Services GATT General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs GCC Gulf Cooperation Council GDP Gross Domestic Product GNP Gross National Product GPRS Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategies G-8 Group of Eight (Industrial Countries) HDF Human Development Fund HDI Human Development Index HIPC Highly Indebted Poor Countries HPI Human Poverty Index IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency IAIB International Association of Islamic Banks 8 IPRI Paper ICCI&CE Islamic Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Commodity Exchange ICDT Islamic Centre for Development of Trade ICM Islamic Common Market IDB Islamic Development Bank IEU Islamic Economic Union IFSTD Islamic Foundation for Science, Technology and Development IICJ International Islamic Court of Justice IINA International Islamic News Agency IISS International Institute for Strategic Studies IMF International Monitory Fund IRCICA The Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture ISOA Islamic Ship-owners Association. ISBO Islamic States Broadcasting Organisation ISESCO The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation ITO International Trade Organisation MDF Muslim Defence Force MDGs Millennium Development Goals MFN Most Favoured Nation MMF Muslim Monetary Fund MNA Muslim News Agency MNCs Multi-National Corporations MSC Muslim Security Council MU Muslim Union NAFTA North American Free Trade Agreement NAMA Non-Agricultural Market Access NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration (USA) NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organisation NGO Non-Governmental Organisation NPT Non-Proliferation Treaty OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OIC Organisation of the Islamic Conference OICC Organisation of Islamic Capital and Cities PRGF Poverty Reduction Growth Facilities PRSC Poverty Reduction Support Credit PRSP Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers PPP Purchasing Power Parities
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Boston Review Book : Syria Dilemma
    THe syria dilemma the syria dilemma edited by Nader Hashemi and Danny Postel A Boston Review Book the mit press Cambridge, Mass. London, England Copyright © 2013 Massachusetts Institute of Technology All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by any electronic or mechanical means (including photocopying, recording, or information storage and retrieval) without permission in writing from the publisher. mit Press books may be purchased at special quantity discounts for business or sales promotional use. For information, please email [email protected] or write to Special Sales Department, The mit Press, 55 Hayward Street, Cambridge, ma 02142. This book was set in Adobe Garamond by Boston Review and was printed on recycled paper and bound in the United States of America. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data The Syria dilemma / edited by Nader Hashemi and Danny Postel. pages cm.—(Boston review books) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-262-02683-3 (hardcover : alk. paper) 1. Syria—History—Protests, 2011–2. Peace-building— International cooperation. I. Hashemi, Nader, 1966– II. Postel, Danny. DS98.6.S94 2013 956.9104’2—dc23 2013024506 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 To the Syrian people Contents Introduction Why Syria Matters 1 Nader Hashemi and Danny Postel Syria Is Not Iraq: Why the Legacy of the Iraq War Keeps Us from Doing the Right Thing in Syria 19 Shadi Hamid Why There Is No Military Solution to the Syrian Conflict 29 Aslı Bâli and Aziz Rana Bosnia and Syria: Intervention
    [Show full text]
  • The Portrayal of the Historical Muslim Female on Screen
    THE PORTRAYAL OF THE HISTORICAL MUSLIM FEMALE ON SCREEN A thesis submitted to the University of Manchester for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Humanities 2017 SABINA SHAH SCHOOL OF ARTS, LANGUAGES AND CULTURES LIST OF CONTENTS List of Photographs................................................................................................................ 5 List of Diagrams...................................................................................................................... 7 List of Abbreviations.............................................................................................................. 8 Glossary................................................................................................................................... 9 Abstract.................................................................................................................................... 12 Declaration.............................................................................................................................. 13 Copyright Statement.............................................................................................................. 14 Acknowledgements................................................................................................................ 15 Dedication............................................................................................................................... 16 1. INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Assad, Syria's
    Why Syria Matters The Moral Imperative of bringing down the house of Al-Assad By Nader Hashemi n March 15, 2011, the Arab Spring came to Syria. Like the other Arab revolts, it occurred spontaneously and proceeded nonviolently. The core political Ogrievances and aspirations were the same as elsewhere: karama (dignity), hurriya (freedom) and adala ijtima’iyya (social justice). The House of Al-Assad, in power forty-one years at the time and arguably the most repressive regime in the Arab world, faced a legitimacy crisis of unprecedented scale and proportion. What is interesting about this particular revolt is that at the time many experts predicted that the Arab Spring would stop at Syria’s borders. Ammar Abdulhamid, a Syrian dissident and former fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, argued that “Syria is not ready for an uprising” because the preparatory organizing at the grassroots that led to the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt was absent in the Syrian case.1 Similarly, Joshua Landis of the University of Oklahoma suggested an “important factor is that [Al-Assad] is popular among young people.” He explained: “I’m always astounded how the average guy in the street, the taxi driver, the person you talk to in a restaurant or wherever, they don’t talk about democracy. They com- plain about corruption, they want justice and equality, but they’ll look at elections in Lebanon and laugh, saying, ‘who needs that kind of democracy?’”2 Unsurprisingly, Bashar Al-Assad, Syria’s president since 2000, held the same view. As the Arab Spring unfolded, he gave an interview to the Wall Street Jour- nal in which he rejected the idea that Syria was ripe for revolution.
    [Show full text]
  • Arabic Poetry: Trajectories of Modernity and Tradition
    ARABIC POETRY Since the late 1940s, Arabic poetry has spoken for an Arab conscience, as much as it has debated positions and ideologies, nationally and worldwide. This book tackles issues of modernity and tradition in Arabic poetry as manifested in poetic texts and criticism by poets as participants in transformation and change. Arabic Poetry studies the poetic in its complexity as pertaining to issues of: ● Selfhood ● Individuality ● Community ● Religion ● Ideology ● Nation ● Class and ● Gender This book also studies in context, issues that have been cursorily noticed or neglected, like Shi’i poetics, Sufism, women’s poetry, and expressions of exilic consciousness. It employs current literary theory and provides comprehensive coverage of modern and postmodern poetry from the 1950s onwards. Arabic Poetry is essential reading for those with interests in Arabic culture and literature and Middle East studies. Muhsin J. al-Musawi is Professor of Middle East and Asian Studies at Columbia University and University Professor at the American University of Sharjah. He has published 24 books in English and Arabic, including Scheherazade in England and The Postcolonial Arabic Novel. He is the editor of Journal of Arabic Literature. In 2002 he received the Owais Award in literary criticism, the most prestigious nongovernmental award in the Arab world. ROUTLEDGE STUDIES IN MIDDLE EASTERN LITERATURE Editors James E. Montgomery University of Cambridge Roger Allen University of Pennsylvania Philip F. Kennedy New York University Routledge Studies in Arabic and Middle Eastern Literature is a monograph series devoted to aspects of the literatures of the Near and Middle East and North Africa, both modern and pre-modern.
    [Show full text]
  • Explorations the Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities for the State of North Carolina
    Volume XII 2017 Explorations The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities for the State of North Carolina http://uncw.edu/csurf/Explorations/csurfexplorations.html [email protected] Center for the Support of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships UNCW Honors College Randall Library, room 2007 University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington, NC 28403 copyright © 2017 by the University of North Carolina Wilmington Cover photographs: Bear: Logan P. Prochaska Crab: Logan P. Prochaska Flower: Logan P. Prochaska ISBN: 978-0-9908932-1-9 Original Design by The Publishing Laboratory Department of Creative Writing University of North Carolina Wilmington 601 South College Road Wilmington, North Carolina 28403 www.uncw.edu/writers Produced by the Center for the Support of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships Honors College University of North Carolina Wilmington 601 South College Road Wilmington, North Carolina 28403 http://uncw.edu/csurf/Explorations/csurfexplorations.html Staff Editor-in-Chief Katherine E. Bruce, PhD Director, Honors College and Center for the Support of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships Professor of Psychology University of North Carolina Wilmington Layout Editor Logan P. Prochaska Assistant Editor Honors Communication Studies Major University of North Carolina Wilmington Consultant Jennifer Horan, PhD Associate Professor of Political Science Associate Director, Honors College University of North Carolina Wilmington Copy Editors Tiffany Kronenwetter Psychology Graduate Student CSURF Graduate Assistant University
    [Show full text]
  • Stereotyping and Translation in Arabic and English News Texts with Reference to Islamophobia and the Arab-Israeli Conflict
    Stereotyping and translation in Arabic and English news texts with reference to Islamophobia and the Arab-Israeli conflict School of Languages, Cultures and Societies University of Leeds, Leeds, UK Submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy 2019 By Shifa Askari Supervised by Professor James Dickins May, 2019 DECLARATION AND STATEMENT OF COPYRIGHT The candidate confirms that the work submitted is his own and that appropriate credit has been given where reference has been made to the work of others. This copy has been supplied on the understanding that it is copyright material and that no quotation from the thesis may be published without proper acknowledgement. © 2019 The University of Leeds and Shifa Askari The right of Shifa Askari to be identified as Author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Dedication To my beloved parents who I love beyond words. To my brother Ayman whose infinite support and guidance helped me see the light at end of the tunnel. To my sister Maha, the bright dentist. You left early, but your soul never departed. We love you now and forever. Acknowledgements Foremost, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my supervisor Professor James Dickins for his patience, constant support and understanding through difficult times. His copious knowledge and close guidance throughout my project, his attentiveness and encouragement have been crucial for this project to be realised. Sincere gratitude also goes to Mrs Karen Priestley for her brilliant support and professionality. Karen has never only been an Education Service Officer; she has been the big heart that understood, sympathised and took concrete steps to help, encourage and motivate.
    [Show full text]
  • British-Arab Communities
    BASELINE RESEARCH TO ASSESS EXISTING RESEARCH ON BRITISH-ARAB COMMUNITIES JULY 2020 July 2020 The Council for Arab-British Understanding (Caabu) Visit Caabu’s website www.caabu.org, follow us on Twitter @caabu and like our Facebook page. Become a Caabu member and support our work! 1 2 Acronyms and Abbreviations § BAME Black, Asian and minority ethnic § CAABU Council for Arab British Understanding § LA Local Authority § LB London Borough § ONS Office for National Statistics § PLASC Pupil Level Annual School Census § CSO Civil Society Organisation § MENA Middle East and North Africa § GCC Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf Disclaimer Views expressed in this report represent those of the author and Caabu, and not necessarily the views of the many organisations and British-Arabs that supported this project. 3 BASELINE RESEARCH TO ASSESS EXISTING RESEARCH ON BRITISH-ARAB COMMUNITIES JULY 2020 Figure 1: Family Day event at Liverpool Arab Arts Festival 2019. Photographer: AB Photography. 4 PREFACE Caabu has always believed that British-Arab communities can and will play an even more vital role in British life. Our role is to help accelerate that process. We have for over six months, led by my colleague Kholood Mohammad, been collating existing research on British-Arab communities, and assessing what we might know or not know. It is based on the sincere belief that vibrant, confident, participative British-Arab communities are a huge asset to this country and that as it stands, and the research bears out, we do not know or understand enough about their successes, achievements and also challenges.
    [Show full text]
  • Muhammad Ahsan
    IPRI Journal 1 POST-9/11 ISLAMOPHOBIA: PROMOTING INTERFAITH HARMONY AND GLOBAL PEACE Muhammad Ahsan Abstract: The post-9/11 situation has brought several changes in the world and there are winners and losers in this process. Unfortunately, the Muslim World is one of the main losers in this regard. This situation does not help in bringing global peace and prosperity; rather, it creates more problems. This paper is an effort to analyse this situation. It argues that the global media is an important source of informal education. But unfortunately it is dominated by major global players and they use it to influence global opinion by defaming Islam and Muslims. Although this piece of research acknowledges some pro-Islamic views reported in the global media, they are well in minority and thus do not influence the global opinion. This strategy is not helpful in promoting global peace when on several occasions Islam has been branded a violent religion while Muslims are labelled as terrorists. This short piece of research highlights the need for concrete measures and suggests some steps that can be taken for the building of mutual confidence between the Muslim and the non-Muslim world. eedless to say, the events of the 11 September 2001 have changed the course of history. This transformed global situation in general N and that of the Muslim World in particular, raises various questions, e.g., what is the way forward to initiate a process of mutual trust and stability in order to overcome the current crises? How can the Muslim countries play an effective role in global peace and prosperity? Can the major global players help the Muslim World in the promotion of peace and prosperity? This paper attempts to explore answers to these and similar questions.
    [Show full text]
  • Arab Voices in Diaspora Ross Readings in the Post / Colonial C Ultures Literatures in English 115
    Arab Voices in Diaspora ross Readings in the Post / Colonial C ultures Literatures in English 115 Series Editors Gordon Collier †Hena Maes–Jelinek Geoffrey Davis (Giessen) (Liège) (Aachen) Arab Voices in Diaspora Critical Perspectives on Anglophone Arab Literature Edited by Layla Al Maleh Amsterdam - New York, NY 2009 Cover painting: Leila Kubba, Distance (2007; acrylic and collage on canvas, 100 x 100 cm). Courtesy of the artist. Cover design: Pier Post The paper on which this book is printed meets the requirements of “ISO 9706:1994, Information and documentation - Paper for documents - Requirements for permanence”. ISBN: 978-90-420-2718-3 E-Book ISBN: 978-90-420-2719-0 © Editions Rodopi B.V., Amsterdam – New York, NY 2009 Printed in The Netherlands Table of Contents Acknowledgements vii Preface ix Anglophone Arab Literature: An Overview L AYLA A L M ALEH 1 Gibran and Orientalism W AÏL S. H ASSAN 65 Strategic Genius, Disidentification, and the Burden of The Prophet in Arab-American Poetry R ICHARD E. H ISHMEH 93 The Dialectic of the Nature/Man/God Trilogy of Acceptance and Tolerance in the Works of Amine F. Rihani B OULOS S ARRU 121 The Last Migration: The First Contemporary Example of Lebanese Diasporic Literature S YRINE H OUT 143 Transnational Diaspora and the Search for Home in Rabih Alameddine’s I, the Divine: A Novel in First Chapters C AROL F ADDA–CONREY 163 The Dynamics of Intercultural Dislocation: Hybridity in Rabih Alameddine’s I, The Divine C RISTINA G ARRIGÓS 187 The Semiosis of Food in Diana Abu Jaber’s Crescent B RINDA J.
    [Show full text]
  • Spring & Summer 2021
    Yale Yale Spring & Summer 2021 Yale SPRING & SUMMER 2021 Contents General Interest Highlights 1–22 Paperback Highlights 23–34 Art 4, 35–66 fashion & textile 35, 56 architecture 39, 42, 43, 55–59 design & decorative 36, 42, 43, 48, 54 modern & contemporary 4, 37, 38, 46, 47, 52, 56–58, 62–66 photography 37, 57, 64, 66 18th & 19th century 48, 50, 53–55, 60, 61 baroque & renaissance 41–42, 49–52, 58 Science, Technology & Mathematics 20–22, 26, 67, 79 International Affairs & Political Science 18, 19, 24, 28, 32, 68, 69 Biography & Memoir 2, 4, 15, 25–27, 29–31, 70, 71 History & Jewish Studies 3, 5, 8–17, 25–27, 29–31, 33, 34, 70, 71, 74 Business & Economics 16, 24, 32, 72 Environment & Ecology 72, 73, 83 Religion, Philosophy & Anthropology 6, 33, 34, 74, 75 Literary Studies & Language 2, 7, 18, 22, 24, 28, 33, 76–79, 84 Poetry & Performing Arts 1, 2, 76, 78, 79 American Studies 80–83 Picture Credits & Index 85–87 Sales Contacts 88 Ordering Information 89 Rights, Inspection Copy, Review Copy Information 89 Yale University Press YaleBooks 47 Bedford Square @yalebooks London WC1B 3DP tel 020 7079 4900 yalebooksblog.co.uk general email [email protected] www.yalebooks.co.uk Nicholas Kenyon explores the enduring appeal of the classical canon at a moment when we can access all music – across time and cultures ‘A music guru.’ – Joan Bakewell The Life of Music New Adventures in the Western Classical Tradition Nicholas Kenyon Nicholas Kenyon is Managing Immersed in music for much of his life as writer, broadcaster and concert Director at London’s Barbican presenter, former director of the BBC Proms, Nicholas Kenyon has long Centre.
    [Show full text]
  • Erasing People Through Disinformation: Syria and the “Anti-Imperialism” of Fools
    Erasing People through Disinformation: Syria and the “Anti-Imperialism” of Fools Disreputable writers and outlets, often operating under the aegis of “independent journalism” with purportedly “leftwing” views, are spreading corrosive propaganda and disinformation that aims to strip Syrians of political agency [The following Open Letter was a collaborative effort of a group of Syrian writers and intellectuals and others who stand in solidarity with them. It is signed by activists, writers, artists, and academics from Syria and more than forty other countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North America, Oceania, and South America, and appears in multiple languages: English, Arabic, French, Spanish, Greek, Italian, Russian, and Portuguese.] Since the beginning of the Syrian uprising ten years ago, and especially since Russia intervened in Syria on behalf of Bashar al-Assad, there has been a curious and malign development: the emergence of pro-Assad allegiances in the name of “anti-imperialism” among some who otherwise generally identify as progressive or “left,” and the consequent spread of manipulative disinformation that routinely deflects attention away from the well-documented abuses of Assad and his allies. Portraying themselves as “opponents” of imperialism, they routinely exhibit a highly selective attention to matters of “intervention” and human rights violations that often aligns with the governments of Russia and China; those who disagree with their highly-policed views are frequently (and falsely) branded as “regime
    [Show full text]
  • This Thesis Has Been Submitted in Fulfilment of the Requirements for a Postgraduate Degree (E.G. Phd, Mphil, Dclinpsychol) at the University of Edinburgh
    This thesis has been submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for a postgraduate degree (e.g. PhD, MPhil, DClinPsychol) at the University of Edinburgh. Please note the following terms and conditions of use: • This work is protected by copyright and other intellectual property rights, which are retained by the thesis author, unless otherwise stated. • A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. • This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the author. • The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the author. • When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given. 1 Examining Editions of THE NATURAL HISTORY OF ALEPPO: Revitalizing Eighteenth-Century Texts Janet Catherine Murray Starkey Thesis submitted for the degree of PhD University of Edinburgh 2013 2 PhD abstract University of Edinburgh 2012 Examining Editions of The Natural History of Aleppo: Revitalizing Eighteenth-Century Texts Janet Catherine Murray Starkey Abstract This thesis revisits the liberal intellectual tradition of the Scottish Enlightenment by comparing two editions of The Natural History of Aleppo (1756: 1794) written and/or edited by Scottish physicians, half-brothers Alexander and Patrick Russell, in which they recorded their observations of Aleppo in northern Syria. There has been only one other monograph written about this text, entitled Aleppo observed by Maurits van den Boogert and published in 2010. As yet no comparative study of the two editions seems to have been made.
    [Show full text]