WCVE Forum May 29: “Arab Voices: What They Are Saying To Us, And Why It Matters”
The World Affairs Council of Greater Richmond presents James Zogby, President of the Arab-American Institute and senior advisor to the polling firm Zogby International for “Arab Voices: What They Are Saying To Us, And Why It Matters.” Zogby asks the questions, collects the answers, and shares the results that will aide in understanding the Arab World more clearly. He brings into stark relief the myths, assumptions, and biases that hold many back from understanding these important people.
He debuts a brand new, comprehensive poll run by Zogby International exclusively for his book, bringing numbers to life so that we can base policy and perception on the real world, rather than on a conjured reality.
Zogby has been active in U.S. politics for many years. He has testified before Congressional committees, has been guest speaker on a number of occasions in the Secretary’s Open Forum at the U.S. Department of State, and has addressed the United Nations and other international forums.
Originally recorded on May 11, 2011.
I have not been able to find this broadcast in the audio archive - is it available?
@Robert: Here is a link to the audio archive of this program: http://ideastations.org/radio/archive/2011-06-08-wcve-forum-zogby-tells-wac-what-arabs-are-saying
@Robert: Good morning. The audio for this program will be available on this website sometime next week.
1. You raised an interesting fact I had never heard before: that the European Dark Ages were ushered in by a slump in trade with the far East. I'm writing a series right now about the issue of individualism, socialism, and how equalitarian prosperity is merely a stepping stone for making a better world. In other words - socialism is a state of things where people have basic needs met and can confront each other on fair terms. I plan on researching the trade-route theory of the dark ages to incorporate it into this model.
2. You say that it is a cultural problem that stops democracy from being accessible in the Middle east. Things couldn't be further from the truth. It is really the breakup of the Ottoman Empire by the western powers, and the arbitrary redefinition of borders, that has kept democracy at bay. As an historian of the region, you should be well aware of just how advanced Ottoman civil legislation was: minorities, including Jews, had the right to self-governance during this period. A similar dynamic existed under Saddam - fringe Christian groups enjoyed protection, and the state largely maintained its sovereignty.
Saddam wasn't without his faults, by any means. But Iraq had to fall for the same reason the Ottoman Empire, and perhaps Iran have had to fall: they didn't or don't fall in line with Western interests. By characterizing the problems facing democracy as cultural, you play into the same prejudices which justified all the bad policy positions you criticized in your speech.
As you argue about the Dark Ages - it's an economic issue, not a cultural one.
you sppech was very informative ,plan to read your book.I have seen it on
amazon, I can get a copy from the library. Thanks for giving me something
to think about.
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