International Conference on Management, Applied and Social Sciences (ICMASS'2012) March 24-25, 2012 Dubai

Cosmopolitanism, Internationalization of Cultures and United Arab Emirates Realities

Motaleb Azari

 economies into the international economy through trade, Abstract—Internationalization—as a substitute term for foreign direct investment, capital flows, migration, and the which had, for a long time, economic roots and spread of technology (Bhagvani 2004). Although the word political consequences, is supposed to bring into focus the globalization seemed to suggest a comprehensive and self- power of culture in global environment. Those who invented evident process, it was yet known as an incomplete the term ‘internationalization’ suggested its power in phenomenon. The assumption was that globalization means promoting integration and the removal not only of cultural the emergence of a single and integrated worldwide economy barriers but of many negative dimensions of culture. But the but it did not indicate precisely what else could be fact is that such an agenda delimits the cultures of the “globalized” and to what extent—regarding social relations in marginalized communities in its enterprise of neo-colonial particular. expansion. In this paper I try to explore on how UAE has been In my interview* with Professor Saul—a renowned successful in creating a unified cultural identity among Canadian intellectual and the president of PEN immigrants’ minor ethnic groups based on an Arabic school of International—he suggests the word ‘Internationalization’ to thought. In this regard, to suggest a unified cultural identity cover these failures of globalization. This is mainly because for all minor ethnic groups, the role of internationalization in creating a sense of “” among all indigenous the process of globalization has been associated with the cultural practices in the Dominion will be explored. Finally, destruction of cultural identities, victims of the accelerating for creating a sense of belonging among these ethnic groups, encroachment of a homogenized, westernized, consumer an intercultural dialogue seems unavoidable. So in conclusion, culture. Even some critics believe that since many people all internationalization is perceived as the new critical force in over the world consider their cultural identity as central to creating a proper situation for this dialogue. their lives and a determining factor to “who” they are, globalization could cause real damages as it makes all other Keywords— Cosmopolitanism, Internationalization, Cultures, cultures local. Hence, internationalization seems to be the United Arab Emirates. proper term to use in the process of bridging cultures in the global village. Internationalization —through interweaving I. INTRODUCTION various cultural practices—could introduce its own set of LOBALIZATION emerged in the 1970s as if from cultural attendants, which exercise a profound influence on Gnowhere, fully grown, in an aura of inclusivity. Believers the social life of peoples everywhere. argued that through this particular system, societies would be This paper examines the impact of internationalization of taken in new and positive directions. Now after three decades, cultures and its creation of new categories of consciousness we can see the results. Theses include some remarkable and identities on a multicultural community like Dubai. successes and even more remarkable failures. It was an In this regard, the possible influences of this process on experiment that attempted simultaneously to reshape immigrants’ cultural identity which is a determining factor in economic, political and social landscapes (Saul, Collapse of the social life of all the minorities living in this society are 3). In fact in its literal sense, globalization was explored. Before discussing issues regarding minorities’ supposed to be the transformation of local or regional cultural identities, I would like to begin by describing the phenomena into global ones. It could be described as a influence of internationalization on indigenous cultural process by which the people of the world are unified into a practices. single society and function together through a combination of Indigenous peoples and their communities are concrete economic, technological, socio-cultural and political forces examples of sustainable societies, historically evolved in (Croucher 10). diverse ecosystems. Internationalization may, at first, seem as In its early stage, globalization was often used in a challenge to their survival and renewal. In fact, some critics referring to economic issues, the integration of national of Internationalization argue that its impact on cultural identities is strongest on these populations because these communities have no voice and are therefore easily swept Motaleb Azari, Chairman, Department of Studies in English, Payame Noor University of Chenaran, Iran. aside by the invisible hand of the market and its proponents. *Held on 7 January 2010, (India: 9.30 pm, Canada 10.30 am) But the fact is that internationalization is not a question of

401 International Conference on Management, Applied and Social Sciences (ICMASS'2012) March 24-25, 2012 Dubai marginalization for indigenous peoples or a multi-pronged cosmopolitanism seems to be more flexible in dealing with attack on the very foundation of their existence and various ethnic groups in a multicultural society like Dubai. livelihoods (Armstrong 2006). Rather it could act as a One of the profound differences between a multicultural mediator in bringing all shared characteristics of these and a cosmopolitan society is that multiculturalism is based on indigenous cultural practices into a positive and unified set of preserving inherent differences while cosmopolitanism is cultural practices. based on bridging them. In fact, cosmopolitanism implies a John Ralston Saul as well as many social scientists argue readiness to accept different influences and the sign of a that the remarkable originality of internationalization is strong society. It reflects the tolerance of existing ethnic wrongly thought to lay in its assertion that all civilizations groups regarding the presence of newcomers. Moreover, (and their cultural identities) from now on are going to be led cosmopolitan societies do not concede political power to by an economic determinism. This premise came with a minorities, as ethnic distinctions are presumed to be of little simplicity that went far beyond the more “nuanced economic account in comparison to being a member of the wider polity. ideas” of thinkers like Montesquieu, Adam Smith or even Karl Although, a cosmopolitan society lacks the automatic fracture Marx (Collapse of Globalism 17). In fact, these scholars do lines that exist in a multicultural one, degrees of bias and not like that to happen. Such a mindset is no blind advocate of racism yet will exist. The most important factor in creating a internationalization either. They rather, take a rational view of proper situation for intercultural dialogues is the tolerance that internationalization as an idea and advocate the “positive a cosmopolitan person owns regarding ethnic and racial ” that is imbued with right spirit and strong values. differences. In UAE’s case, the dominant ethnic group is In a global village, indigenous peoples would know each Arabian and fortunately their tolerance depends on a other and act in the public interest which can create a commonality of institutions and ideas, and a feeling that the “positive internationalism”. There is a whiff of old Vedic idea common values are respected. of the “world as one family” in this expectation. If the Regarding the positive aspects of a cosmopolitan society, expectation materializes, internationalization will succeed in an important question which yet remains unsolved—dealing crumbling walls of narrow indigenous cultural practices and with the debate of cultural identity—is; given the recognition causes the cultural interactions fall into a positive process of that individuals belong to multiple cultural groups with give and take in a global scale. multiple identities—for examples Iranian children who are I believe that internationalization of cultures makes it easier borne and live in Dubai—how they combine these group for local cultures to come across many positive aspects of a identities when they define their subjective in-group. More foreign culture. Therefore, these local communities may specifically, the question whether multiple group benefit from their interaction with those positive aspects of a memberships when compared to single group identities lead to foreign culture. In my opinion, we may not ignore the fact that more inclusive or less inclusive in-groups must be examined. as national governments bind themselves to new global Such situations are better understood when we first explore economic treaties, internationalization may cause traditional the very nature of identity as constructed by a multicultural beliefs and rituals which are the core of cultural identities community such as Dubai. thrown into question or even be wiped out, taking with them By Arabian identity one refers to a set of characteristics and vast indigenous knowledge, rich culture and traditions, and symbols that many Arabs regard as expressing their unique any hope of preserving a more holistic way of life for future place and role in the world. Primary influences on this identity generations. are the emergence of Islamic as well as the There is no denying that changes are taking place within the immigration of many Arabs and “Ajams” to UAE. indigenous societies and cultures all over the world, but any The relations between indigenous majority and immigrant effort to integrate them into the mainstream of an minorities have played a major role in UAE’s leading internationalized culture must give proper consideration to to the present cultural identities of the nation. Other their folk beliefs, values, ways of life and modes of thinking immigrants from European and Asian nationalities as well as so that disruptions, or even their extinction, can be avoided. the strong influence of United States, have helped shape a The indigenous inhabitants of UAE and their original cultures more complex identity. These influences have combined over indeed face the same challenges of internationalization of centuries to form what one might recognize today as the cultures, a process that actually started with the advent of modern culture of UAE. western colonialism of Britain and France all over the world. The influence of internationalization on indigenous cultures Now the question is for how long the immigrants and in Dubai is so remarkable in emerging the local cultural aboriginals must undergo the process of acculturation and practices and ethnic relations to the mainstream of an ignorance of their original cultural practices to survive in the internationalized culture. However, the concept of culture in host society? For creation of a stable society, the richness of this region becomes complicated as it encompasses the indigenous cultural practices and the creativity of indigenous artistic, musical, literary, culinary, political and social communities as peoples belonging to different races and elements that are representatives of all mentioned ethnic ethnic groups must be highlighted instead of discussing them groups of immigrants and aboriginals. Hence, definitions of solely in the context of their conflicts. In this regard, UAE’s identity, based on a unified cultural identity are

402 International Conference on Management, Applied and Social Sciences (ICMASS'2012) March 24-25, 2012 Dubai important to citizens of the nation because “Individual [6] Madger, Ted. Canada’s Holly wood: The Canadian State and Feature identities rely, in part, on public recognition of the inherent Films. Toronto: Univesity of Toronto Press, 1993, 2. [7] Metcalf, William. Ed. Understanding Canada: A multidisciplinary worth of one’s cultural and ethnic values” ( Macleod 366 ). Introduction to Canadian Studies. New York: New York University To have an identity and to feel a member of a nation, one Press, 1982, 393. needs to participate in the intellectual beliefs of a group of [8] Saul, John Ralston. The Collapse of Globalism and the Reinvention of the World. New Delhi: Penguin. 2005, 3. people in a way in which a useful negotiation of cultures can [9] ---. The Collapse of Globalism and the Reinvention of the World. 17. bring a unified cultural identity for all. In a multicultural [10] ---. Foreword. The world is our witness: The Historic Journey of society like Canada, the attempt to address the question of Nisaga’s into Canada. By Tom Molloy with Donald Ward. Calgary: Fifth House Ltd., 2000. national identity is complicated by the dualism of French and [11] Thompson, John. “Multiculturalism vs. Cosmopolitanism”, In www. English Canada, by regionalism and multiculturalism in a mackenzieinstitute. com/ commentary, 06.09.2003. biased way, and by a ready acceptance of American popular culture on the part of most Canadians (Madger 2). Further, as Saul (2000) in his foreword to The World Is Our Witness says; “It has never been a linear, logical, rational place. It has always worked on several levels at once. It has always turned its back on ideas of majority because they eliminate the idea of a country of minorities. (So) if Canada is not rational, what is it?” In my opinion, UAE has been successful in removing all the obstacles from creating a unified vision towards varieties in socio-cultural practices and this is so obvious in its dealing with lots of temporary and permanent immigrants especially in Dubai. Therefore, internationalization has the potentials to create a sense of belonging to the world and opening it to all the people living in this society. It creates a sense of cosmopolitanism and integration into unified cultural practices among immigrants too. Hence, aboriginals as well as immigrants would be able to transfer their ideas and ethnic practices from their limited space to a wider space and the Arab thought becomes a factor that influences and is influenced by all current cultural beliefs as a whole. In this regard, UAE becomes a large homeland and an extended space for all ethnic groups to practice their traits and cultural movements. In sum, the longer immigrants live in UAE along with aboriginals, the more attached to the major cultural practices they grow. Hence, creating a set of unified cultural practices base on shared characteristics of existing cultures, will create an equal opportunity for all ethnic groups to engage in the give-and-take process of cultural practices. On the other hand, creating these unified cultural practices and a fruitful negotiation between various cultural identities, needs lots of attempts from the social scientists in the region

REFERENCES [1] Armstrong, Jeannette. “Indigenous People’s Resistance to ”. New York: Cooper Union, November 18, 2006. [2] Bhagwati, Jagdish. In Defense of Globalization. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004. [3] Croucher, Sheila L. Globalization and Belonging: The Politics of Identity a Changing World. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield,2004, 10. [4] Davis, Robertson. “Displaced Majority” and Nina Varsava “Euro – Canadian Diaspora”, in Orbis Literarum, volume 63, no. 1, 2008, pp 1 – 21. [5] Macleod, Erna. “Decolonizing Interpretation”. In Garry Sherbert, Annie Gerin, Sheila Petty, Eds. Canadian Cultural Poesis. Wilfred Laurier University Press, 2006, 366.

403