The Arab Mind Bound

The Arab Spring in Egypt and Tunisia was a manifestation of all that is amiss in the Arab world. The Arab Mind Bound seeks to understand the conditions which created the breeding ground for those upheavals.

Heggy deals first with religion, and how Islam is seen and propagated as a religion of violence. In reality this is but one interpretation of Islam, while many others call for moderation and progress. He explains the factors which led to the rapid spread and influence of violent Islam and its effect on Arab societies.

One of the key players in the power struggle in Egypt are the Muslim Brotherhood. Are they the radical Islamists of Mubarak propaganda, are they the democratic actors they claim to be, or is the truth more complex than that Heggy’s chapter on the Muslim Brotherhood should be read by all who have a stake in peace in the Middle East or an interest in Egypt.

Next he tackles the backward education system that engenders misconceptions which, in turn, provoke political, social and economic problems. These trigger a vicious circle which fortifies the existing Arab mindset. Arab societies are thus trapped in a cycle of political, social and economic problems to which the only solution is science and modern management. The youth of Tunisia and Egypt, equipped with modern tools and technology, started revolutions to achieve the required change in their societies.