Arab Contexts Research Articles

Nursing strategies for enhancing calm in older Arabs with dementia: integrating Snoezelen methods, aromatherapy, and personal items to reduce agitation

BackgroundAgitation significantly impacts Arab elders with dementia. Multisensory stimulation, such as Snoezelen, shows promise but lacks exploration in Arab contexts. ObjectiveEvaluate a culturally adapted multisensory intervention—combining Snoezelen, aromatherapy, and personal items—on agitation in Arab elders with dementia. MethodsA quasi-experimental design assessed 31 patients receiving the intervention against 31 controls. Agitation, quality of life, and neuropsychiatric symptoms were measured using the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI) and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). ResultsThe intervention group exhibited notable reductions in CMAI scores for aggression and agitation behaviors (p < 0.001) and improvements in quality of life and NPI scores for agitation/aggression and depression/dysphoria (p < 0.001). ConclusionThis culturally tailored multisensory approach effectively reduced agitation and improved well-being in Arab dementia patients. The findings advocate for further research and suggest such interventions can be beneficial in culturally diverse dementia care settings. Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, ID NCT06216275

Understanding the State of Research Evidence Involving Parents of Children with Cerebral Palsy in the Arab Contexts: A Scoping Review

Understanding the State of Research Evidence Involving Parents of Children with Cerebral Palsy in the Arab Contexts: A Scoping Review

Review of Research on Arab EFL Learners’ Motivational Language Learning Strategy-Use in the Tertiary Context

Research suggests that successful language learning requires learners to utilize effective cognitive, behavioral and affective language learning strategies (LLS). Under the impetus of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, English as a Foreign Language (EFL) proficiency in an essential for adequately preparing the workforce of the future. This creates an imperative for LLs researchers to provide a contextualized and nuanced picture of the EFL learning experiences of tertiary-level Saudi EFL learners and their strategy-use. Thus, the aim of the present paper was to review LLs research within the Saudi and parallel Arab contexts to detect predominant themes, trends and gaps. To this end, 16 relevant studies undertaken between 2012-2023 were identified. The review found that the studies were largely focused on identifying perceptions and attitudes towards LLs amongst students and deployed mostly quantitative methodologies. They predominantly strove to confirm earlier studies rather than to pursue exploratory or intervention-based research trajectories that could provide deeper insights or deploy strategy-use research to address challenges faced by the learners. Based on the above, the present paper suggests an urgent need for Arab LLs researchers (particularly in the Saudi context) to undertake contextualized and actionable research of benefit to Arab (and Saudi) EFL practitioners and learners. Keywords: Language learning strategies, EFL learning, Vision 2023, Social contexts

Validation of the Arabic Maternal postpartum quality of life questionnaire among Lebanese women: A cohort study.

The postpartum period is an important phase in a woman's life. Yet, there is a paucity of validated instruments that assess maternal postpartum quality of life issues. The aim of this study is to describe the adaptation and validation of the Arabic version of the Maternal Postpartum Quality of Life (MAPP-QOL) questionnaire. This instrument validation cohort study tested an adapted Arabic version of the MAPP-QOL questionnaire on a convenience sample of 485 healthy Lebanese postpartum women. The MAPP-QOL reliability and validity were investigated by conducting Exploratory Factor Analysis using Principal Component Analysis, and by correlating the participants' MAPP-QOL scores with their scores on the Arabic Maternal Breastfeeding Evaluation Scale (MBFES-A), age, and education. Confirmatory Factor Analysis was conducted to examine how well the original factor structure of MAPP-QOL fits with our observed data using STATA 14. All other statistical analyses were done using SPSS version 23. The Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient of the Arabic MAPP-QOL was 0.90. Exploratory factor analysis revealed the following five components: Functioning (11 items, Cronbach's alpha of 0.82), Socioeconomic (9 items, Cronbach's alpha of 0.81), Relational (9 items, Cronbach's alpha of 0.75), Psychological (4 items, Cronbach's alpha of 0.74), and Health (6 items, Cronbach's alpha of 0.59). The overall Arabic MAPP-QOL score was positively but weakly correlated with the MBFES-A score (r = 0.177, p < 0.001), its Maternal Enjoyment/Role Attainment subscale score (r = 0.108, p = 0.023), and Lifestyle/Body Image subscale score (r = 0.286, p < 0.001). There was no significant association between the type of infant feeding at one month and the Arabic MAPP-QOL score (p = 0.932). Similarly, the Arabic MAPP-QOL score was not correlated with the participant's age (r = 0.043, p = 0.362) or education (p = 0.451). After modification of indices, Confirmatory Factor Analysis revealed that the goodness of fit indices corresponding to the 5-factor model in the original questionnaire indicate a reasonable fit with RMSEA = 0.052, CFI = 0.847 and SRMR = 0.062. The Arabic MAPP-QOL has good psychometric properties and may be a useful tool for clinicians and researchers interested in measuring maternal postpartum quality of life. Further replication of our findings in other Arab contexts is needed.

Research collaboration amongst Egyptian library and information science faculty members

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to determine the potential for research collaboration amongst Egyptian library and information science (LIS) faculty members.Design/methodology/approachAn online survey was used, which ran from the beginning of June to the middle of July 2021.FindingsMale respondents made up slightly more than half of the total, with ages ranging from 30s to 40s and the majority holding PhDs. According to all respondents, the most important reasons for collaborating on research authorship were “to gain more experience”, followed by “to gain more knowledge”. More than half of respondents rated the collaborative research as “Good”, with “Very Good” coming in second. Almost all respondents stated the most common types of collaboration amongst the respondents were “a research paper”, “a case study”, “a review” and “a book chapter”. All faculty members stated that challenges such as “The research collaborator does not contribute equally to the same motivation” and “The research collaborator does not do what is expected of him/her to complete the research” were at the very least significant to the respondents.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study have significant implications for higher education research and publishing in Egypt, particularly in terms of encouraging collaborative research amongst Egyptian researchers, particularly in the field of LIS.Originality/valueThis is nearly the first study of the kind in the Arab and Egyptian contexts. This study is described as a pioneer amongst the studies concerned with this topic that were conducted in the field of joint authorship, especially at the local and regional levels, because this study is one of the few studies on partnership and research cooperation amongst Egyptian faculty members in the field of LIS.

An investigation of gender bias in Mauritanian secondary schools English textbooks: towards more equal representation

ABSTRACT In recent years, gender-biased discourse has been one of the most studied phenomena in critical discourse analysis. In the Muslim and Arab contexts, most studies show that the depiction of women in textbooks is declining. This paper looks at the representation of women in the Mauritanian context by analysing four secondary school English textbooks. Because textbooks can be a site for cultural and political discourse, the study seeks to find out whether the Mauritanian government’s Pedagogic Institute’s goal of achieving equality between all components of the Mauritanian society is achieved for women in the textbooks. The study tries to explain gender bias by referring to societal views as well government policies regarding women. Bias against women is investigated using Norman Fairclough’s Three-Dimensional Model. The results of the study have shown biased portrayal of women in the textbooks. Men’s representation dominates women’s in most activities while women are more frequently represented only in domestic activities. It was further shown that, although government policies seem to support women’s empowerment, society’s views of women remain stereotypical which might explain their representation. More equal representationneeds to be sought so that textbook content goes in line with the government’s policies of empowering women.

Primary Students' Attitudes towards Peers with Disabilities in Physical Education in Saudi Arabia.

The attitudes of students without disabilities toward their peers with disabilities are considered an important determinant of successful inclusion in physical education settings. Nonetheless, there is limited research on this topic in non-Western societies, especially in Arab contexts. Thus, to address this paucity in the literature, this study aimed to assess the general attitudes of Saudi students without disabilities towards their peers with disabilities and examine the associations between selected student-related variables (e.g., gender, age, type of school, school location, having a family member or a friend or a classmate with a disability, and having experience of playing with a person with a disability) and attitudes of students without disabilities. A total of 972 students aged 9-12 years old (Mage = 10.6; SD = 1.1; girls = 49.7%) completed the Arabic version of the Scale of Attitudes toward Students with Disabilities in Physical Education-Primary Education (SASDPE-PE). Data analysis indicated that, in general, participants reported positive attitudes toward their peers with disabilities in physical education classes. Despite boys being more likely to hold positive attitudes than girls, no significant difference between them existed. The results showed that 10-year-old participants reported more significantly positive attitudes than those in the other age groups. Participants attending public schools reported more significant positive attitudes toward their peers with disabilities in physical education classes compared to those attending private schools. Having a friend with a disability was linked to students without disabilities having positive attitudes towards their peers with disabilities. In contrast, having a family member or a classmate with disabilities and having played with a person with a disability were not related to such positive attitudes. The current study's findings have significant implications for inclusive educational practices.

A Focus on School Experiences in Arab and Muslim Contexts

A Focus on School Experiences in Arab and Muslim Contexts

Considerations in education for forgiveness and reconciliation: lessons from Arab and Muslim majority contexts

ABSTRACT This article presents lessons learned on the education for forgiveness and reconciliation in Muslim and Arab majority contexts, especially as part of civic engagement or across content areas. It first presents a brief review of the literature on forgiveness and reconciliation and ways they are interrelated in the larger Arab and Muslim contexts. Secondly, it points out religious and cultural sources that ground the practice of forgiveness and reconciliation. Thirdly, it presents the analysis of forgiveness stories collected from various Arab communities and discusses the main obstacles that hinder adopting a forgiveness and reconciliation agenda. Finally, it proposes forgiveness education and pedagogy based on stories to provide the framework and mechanisms to advance forgiveness and reconciliation education in schools and education spaces. We recommend utilizing local stories and storytelling as a method to delve into interpersonal and social conflicts.

Antonio Gramsci, Settler-Colonialism and Palestine

This article explores Gramsci’s relevance to colonialism with particular reference to the situation in Palestine and the Palestinians. It historically oscillates between the Italy and larger world contexts of Gramsci's time and the Palestinian and larger Arab contexts in more recent times, especially, in the latter case, from the onset of settler colonialism in the Middle East. While it covers a broad range of writings by Gramsci, notably the notes contained in the Prison Notebooks, it provides special attention to his discussion on the Southern Question. It tackles recurring themes in colonial discourse such as those of ‘divide and rule’ and ideology residing in language besides the ever so pertinent theme of Hegemony. It posits the resonance of appropriated or reclaimed knowledge with a different ‘whole way of life’ (Raymond Williams). Palestinian society is represented warts and all, with specific strengths and differences highlighted, especially that of country and the city.

Patients' and physicians' gender and perspective on shared decision-making: A cross-sectional study from Dubai.

Delivering patient-centered care is a declared objective of many health delivery systems globally, especially in an era of value-based health care. It entails the active engagement of the patients in healthcare decisions related to their health, also known as shared decision making (SDM). Little is known about the role of gender in shaping the perspective of patients on their opportunity for engaging in SDM in the Arabian Gulf Region. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of gender in shaping patients' perspectives toward their opportunity for SDM in Dubai, UAE. This study utilized a cross-sectional survey consisting of sociodemographic questions and the 9-item Shared Decision-Making Questionnaire (SDM-Q-9). A total of 50 physicians (25 females and 25 males), practicing at a large private healthcare delivery network in Dubai, were recruited using convenience sampling. Ten patients of every recruited physician (5 male and 5 female) were surveyed (i.e., a total of 500 patients). Statistical analysis assessed the differences in patients' perceptions of physician SDM attitude scores by physicians' and patients' gender using independent t-test, ANOVA-test, and Chi-square analyses. A total of 50 physicians and 500 patients (250 male patients and 250 female patients) participated in this study. The odd of patients agreement was significantly lower for male physicians, compared to their female counterparts, on the following elements of SDM: the doctor precisely explaining the advantages and disadvantages of the treatment (OR = 0.55, 95%CI: 0.34-0.88, p = 0.012); the doctor helping them understand the information (OR = 0.47, 95%CI: 0.23-0.97, p = 0.038), the doctor asking about preferred treatment option (OR = 0.52, 95%CI: 0.35-0.77, p = 0.001), and the doctor thoroughly weighting the different treatment options (OR = 0.60, 95%CI: 0.41-0.90, p = 0.013). No significant associations were observed between patients' gender and their perception of their opportunity for SDM. Likewise, no significant associations were observed between the same or different physician-patient gender and patients' perception of physicians' SDM attitudes. Statistically significant associations were observed between physician-patient gender and preferred treatment option for patients (p = 0.012). Study findings suggest that while there were no differences in patients' perspective on SDM by the gender of patients, significant differences were observed by the gender of physicians. Female physicians, compared to their male counterparts, were more engaged in SDM, with both male and female patients. Male physician-female patient dyad received the lowest scores on SDM. This could be explained by the cultural, social, and religious sensitivities that infiltrate the physician-patient relationship in the Arab contexts. Despite the multi-cultural nature of the country, some female patients may still experience some discomfort in opening up and in discussion preferences with male physicians. For physicians, striking the right balance between assertiveness and SDM is necessary within the cultural context, especially among male providers. Offering targeted learning and development programs on the importance and practice of SDM is also necessary to ensure equitable opportunity for engagement in SDM for all patients irrespective of the gender of their provider.

The Theatre of Sa’dallah Wannous: A Critical Study of the Syrian Playwright and Public Intellectual ed. by Sonja Mejcher-Atassi and Robert Myers

Reviewed by: The Theatre of Sa’dallah Wannous: A Critical Study of the Syrian Playwright and Public Intellectual ed. by Sonja Mejcher-Atassi and Robert Myers Samar Zahrawi (bio) Sonja Mejcher-Atassi and Robert Myers (eds). The Theatre of Sa’dallah Wannous: A Critical Study of the Syrian Playwright and Public Intellectual. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2021. Pp. xxi + 233. $99.99 hardback, $80.00 ebook. The Theatre of Sa’dallah Wannous is the first book in the English language to paint a well-rounded picture of the dramatic art, intellectual background, and theatrical impact of the most significant modern Arab dramatist, Sa’dallah Wannous (1941–97). Generally speaking, the book first situates Wannous within Syrian, Arab, and world contexts and analyzes Wannous’ use of Brechtian techniques to induce critical thinking and promote social and political change. Second, it provides a reading into the thematic content of Wannous’ drama caused by his frustration with the multiple political failures of his time. Third, it delves into the directors’ theatrical experience while staging Wannous’s plays. Fourth, it profiles Wannous the intellectual, the man, and the father through surveying his library and recording memoirs about him by two of his close friends and daughter. Editors Sonja Mejcher-Atassi and Robert Myers have adeptly brought together the work of multidisciplinary experts, including literary scholars, directors, creative writers, and close acquaintances. The resulting volume will appeal to scholars in the field of theatre, literature, culture, and the relation of authority to social change. It will also be of value to anyone interested in contemporary Syria and the Arab world. The book is unique in critiquing Wannous’ theatre and thought and tracing the organic connection between political, social, historical, and personal factors that contributed to Wannous’s creativity. It studies the role of Wannous’s theatre in envisioning and impacting culture during postcolonial and contemporary Syria and adjacent countries. It also registers changes in societies and measures the extent to which theatre and literature still matter today Locating the work of Wannous within the theatrical movement in the Arab world and world theatre, this book allows readers to define the disciplines and modes of thought in a new way. It identifies the post-colonial struggle with authoritarianism and the political events that influenced Wannous such as the partition of Palestinian Land upon the creation of the State of Israel (Nakba), the loss of more land to Israel due to the war of June 5th 1967 (Naksa), the Camp David Accords (Egypt and Israel peace treaty in 1978), and the continuous struggle for peace and political equity. In “Part 1 - Situating Wannous,” Marvin Carlson surveys the history of the Arabic world since the Arabic renaissance (Nahda) in Cairo, Damascus, and Beirut, starting with Marun al-Naqqash and Abu-Khalil al-Qabbani and moving up to Wannous’s time. Carlson studies the influence of European [End Page 336] theatre practitioners on Wannous and his inclination to favor Brecht’s methods over Ionesco’s, at the same time drawing from folkloric tradition to develop a genuinely Arab theatre. He also considers Wannous as a major author not just in the modern Arab world but in the theatre repertoire around the world. Robert Myers and Nada Saab study, in more detail, the influence of Bertolt Brecht and other Brechtian practitioners on Wannous, as well as Wannous’ innovative use of Arabic traditional modes while adapting Brechtian techniques. Myers and Saab investigate the way Wannous used Brechtian techniques in his Theatre of Politicization such as estrangement effect, frequent use of metatheatre, the use of narrations, and characterization through class and profession as opposed to the creation of character through psychological development. They also point to Wannous’ break away from the direct influence of Brecht and Marx in the later plays of the 1990s, when he drew upon Chekhov, Shakespeare, Sufi rituals, and other sources of inspiration. “Part 2 - Reading Wannous” studies the significance of Wannous’ best-known and most-produced plays about politics, history, and theories of theatre. Zeina Halabi provides a post-structural study of Wannous’ ten-year silence that came as a reaction to multiple political and personal catastrophes culminating in the Camp David peace treaty accord between...

Taming the People: Comparing Protests and Populism in Arab and American Politics

The rise of populism has been an uncontested global reality in recent years. However, it is unclear exactly how culturally distinct populist movements imitate or mirror each other, especially given the different rhetorical, political, ideological, and cultural contexts within which they operate. This article addresses this issue by comparing recent manifestations of populism across contemporary Arab and American contexts, with a special focus on former United States President Donald Trump’s response to the George Floyd protests and Egyptian President Abdel Fatah el-Sisi’s handling of demonstrations in his country. We argue that each leader deployed common rhetorical tactics as a populist strategy to undermine the protestors’ attempts to articulate the people’s will. At the same time, our analysis shows how the different contexts in which Trump and Sisi operate also impact their ability to successfully translate their populism into political effectiveness. By conducting this analysis, our article shows how similar populist tactics across different cultural contexts may lead to divergent outcomes, revealing the importance of institutional as well as popular bases of support for would-be populist politicians.

Women in Cultural Insularity and Anxious Spaces in the Arab and Arab American Contexts in Laila Halaby’s West of the Jordan

This article, throughout Laila Halaby’s <em>West of the Jordan</em> (2013), examines the socio-cultural characteristics and conditions that determine the identity construction of Arab women in both the diaspora and the homeland. In other words, it demonstrates how Arab women’s identity oscillates between their country of residence – diaspora – and their countries of origin, showcasing the complexity of their belonging. I argue that socio-cultural traditional mechanisms such as conservatism and judgementalism contribute to the positioning of women in the Arab context in a complex cultural insularity and spaces of anxiety, providing multiple readings of Arab female bodies. This article concludes that Halaby’s portrayal of Arab women’s experiences in her fiction tends to trigger feminist and empathetic engagements. In addition to critical and analytical approaches to the novel, the arguments in this article are based on perspectives of prominent critics and scholars such as Fadda-Carol Conrey, Nadine Naber, and Homi Bhabha, to name just a few, as well as on interviews I conducted with prominent Arab American novelists, namely Rajia Hassib and Laila Halaby.

Children and Screen Media in Changing Arab Contexts: An Ethnographic Perspective, by Tarik Sabry and Nisrine Mansour

Children and Screen Media in Changing Arab Contexts: An Ethnographic Perspective, by Tarik Sabry and Nisrine Mansour

Validation of the Arabic Maternal Breastfeeding Evaluation Scale (MBFES-A) among Lebanese women

BackgroundMaternal satisfaction with the breastfeeding experience is an important determinant of breastfeeding success. There is currently no valid tool to measure perceived maternal satisfaction with breastfeeding in the Arab context.MethodsThis cohort study tested the Maternal Breastfeeding Evaluation Scale (MBFES) on 450 healthy Lebanese mothers for internal consistency reliability and construct validity. Participants were recruited between April 2018 and February 2020.ResultsThe Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient of the Arabic MBFES (MBFES-A) was 0.87. Exploratory factor analysis revealed that it has three components: Infant Satisfaction/Growth, Maternal Enjoyment/Role Attainment, and Lifestyle/Body Image with reliability coefficients of 0.88, 0.87, and 0.68, respectively. Four items were deleted because of low factor loadings and three items were relocated to the Infant Satisfaction/Growth subscale based on their factor loadings. Participants who were exclusively breastfeeding at one and/or 3 months had higher mean MBFES-A total and Infant Satisfaction/Growth and Maternal Enjoyment/Role Attainment subscale scores than participants who were partially breastfeeding, and significantly higher mean scores than mothers who were not breastfeeding (all p values < 0.001), findings that support the scale’s construct validity. Moreover, scores on the Infant Satisfaction/Growth subscale correlated with exclusive breastfeeding at one (r = 0.37, p < 0.001) and 3 months (r = 0.31, p < 0.001). The MBFES-A score had positive modest correlations with maternal attitude towards breastfeeding (r = 0.30, p < 0.001), exclusive breastfeeding at one (r = 0.27) and at 3 months (r = 0.26, p < 0.001 for both), as well as with the longest previous exclusive breastfeeding (r = 0.27, p < 0.001).ConclusionsThe 26-item MBFES-A is a reliable and valid instrument to use in future breastfeeding research in Middle East North Africa countries. There is a need for replication of our findings in other Arab contexts using new constructs to establish stronger construct validity.

Learning style instruments in Arab countries: an analysis of existing literature

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine learning style instruments used in Arab countries to measure higher education students’ learning styles, identify the most common instruments and determine whether the reliability and validity of these instruments have been verified in Arab contexts. Design/methodology/approach A comprehensive review of the existing literature using several databases and search engines. Descriptive statistics, such as frequencies and percentages were used to present the results. Findings There are only a few published studies related to learning styles in Arab countries, with the majority published between 2012 and 2016 using samples drawn from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq. The most common learning style instrument is the Felder–Silverman/Solomon Index of Learning Styles. The reliability and validity of this instrument require further investigation. Research limitations/implications This study is not without limitations. First, it covers only publications in the English language. Second, the paper focuses on research involving higher education students. Third, only research that was available online was used in this study. Nonetheless, the findings have several implications for researchers, educators and human resource development managers. For researchers, this study highlights research gaps that need to be filled. It also serves as a basis for more analytical and in-depth studies. The data also helps educators become more informed about the learning style instruments commonly used in the Arab context and whether the results from these instruments are dependable. Human resource development managers can draw on these findings to choose instruments that have proven reliable and valid. Originality/value This study is the first attempt to examine learning style instruments used in Arab countries and to explore whether the reliability and validity of these instruments have been verified in Arab contexts. This paper is a useful contribution to research into learning styles and learning style instruments.

The Politics of Teaching International Relations in the Arab World: Reading Walt in Beirut, Wendt in Doha, and Abul-Fadl in Cairo

AbstractCan International Relations (IR) as it is taught in the Arab world be said to be an “American social science” or is it taught differently in different places? The forum addresses this question through an exploration of what and how scholars at Arab universities are teaching IR and how institutional, historical, and linguistic, as well as political and individual factors shape classroom dynamics in the Arab world. This forum attempts to bring the classroom into the Global/Post-Western debate by showing how IR can be taught differently in different places with a focus on a region under-represented in IR debates: the Arab world. The essays, exhibiting diversity in pedagogical strategies and theoretical perspectives, provide a window into how the “international” is perceived and taught locally by teachers and students in various Arab contexts. While the influence from the American “core” of the discipline is obvious, the forum documents how the theoretical and conceptual foundations of IR based on Western perspectives and history do not travel intact. The essays collectively provide evidence of different kinds of IRs not just across but also within regions and show that studying pedagogy can become a way to study how disciplinary IR varies contextually.

Contagious heartaches: relational selfhood and queer care in Amman, Jordan

This article studies the relationship between care, family connectivity and queer selfhood in a Muslim-majority context. Based on fieldwork in Amman, Jordan, the article explores how queer people find themselves in demanding circumstances figuring out how to care for—and be responsible to—their family members, whilst caring for themselves at the same time. Drawing partly on Suad Joseph’s patriarchal connectivity and Lotte Meinert and Lone Gron’s contagious kinship connections, I argue that if we are to understand queer selfhood in Jordanian and other Arab, Muslim-majority contexts in more nuance, we need to look at the relations and emotions at stake in care. Through selected ethnographic cases—in particular one that deals with heartaches—we take a closer look at how queer selfhood is constituted in response to, and up against care and control dynamics in the family. This exposes the interrelated and emotionally contagious qualities of kinship, sexuality and gender. It moves us beyond an understanding of queer subjectivities at the margins of a Muslim community, and towards an understanding of what care and queer selfhood in Muslim and Arab contexts also involves becoming through the hands and hearts of others.

To What Extent Do Non-Westerners Tolerate Political Oppression? They Have Their Own “Impossible Tyranny”!

This paper seeks to challenge the interpretations found in Western political philosophy on Oriental or Asian tyranny. The main research questions are: Is tyranny the inevitable fate of non-Western societies? To what extent do these societies tolerate political oppression? To provide initial answers, the paper analyzes certain aspects of tyrannical phenomenon found in some non-Western countries, in Arab, Asian, African, and Latin American contexts. It offers two new interpretive terms: “possible tyranny” and “impossible tyranny.” It suggests that each country inevitably has its own share of tyranny in both quantity and quality, for a period of time. However, if this type of tyranny oversteps certain boundaries in a country, that country will likely experience another kind of tyranny: impossible tyranny. The study offers preliminary definitions, an initial justification of these two terms, and suggests many questions for future studies.