Arab Human Development Report, 2003

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Arab Human Development Report, 2003

• Building The Knowledge Society

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Knowledge Data, information, instructions and
ideas
All symbolic structures internalised by the human
being or society.

• Not limited to the natural and exact sciences.
• Extends to the humanities and social sciences.
• And artistic and literary creativity.

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The Knowledge Society
Knowledge as the organizing principle for all
human existence
The economy the knowledge mode of production
A society built on the dissemination and
production of knowledge and utilising it
effectively

• The zenith of the Arab-Moslem civilization
  produced, in its historical context, a knowledge
  society.
• Building a knowledge society in the Arab
  countries represent reclaiming one of the epic
  achievements of Arab history.
• At present, however, societal impediments stand
  in the way of knowledge production.

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Schematic Representation of the Knowledge System
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A- The State of Knowledge in Arab Countries

• Knowledge dissemination activities
• (socialization, education, mass media and
  translation) are weak and ineffective, and
• knowledge production is poor

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A significant Arab human capital exists
It innovates at present in spite of a hostile
societal environment

• The absence of institutional support to RD and
  the lack of an environment favourable to
  knowledge acquistion lead to the brain drain.
• Under different conditions, the Arab human
  capital can form a solid foundation of a
  knowledge renaissance.

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Culture (religion) supportive, Political
impediments to knowledge acquisition appear to be
even more stringent than those of the
socio-economic structures
Freedom needs to be expanded significantly

• Good governance needs to be established to ensure
  the steady expansion and protection of freedom.
• Arab co-operation needs to be rehabilitated and
  strengthened.
• Arabs must assume a positive but balanced stand
  vis-à-vis globalisation.

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International cooperation Colour code

• RED Highly sensitive, exercise extreme
  caution
• ORANGE Moderately sensitive, handle with care
• GREEN Relatively safe, Forge ahead.

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C- Towards Building the Knowledge Society A
Strategic Vision
Pillars of the Knowledge Society, Five

• 1- Unrestricted freedoms of opinion, expression
  and association, guaranteed by good governance.
• 2- High quality education for all, according
  special attention to the extremes of the
  educational continuum and life-long education.

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Pillars of the Knowledge Society - 2

• 3- Endogenous science and an autonomous
  capability in RD in all societal activities.
• 4- A steady shift towards the knowledge mode of
  production in the Arab socio-economic structure.
• 5- An Arab general knowledge model authentic,
  open and enlightened.

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Pillars of the Knowledge Society - 3
An Arab general knowledge model authentic, open
and enlightened - 1

• Reinstating the essence of religion, purified
  from exploitation encouraging and rewarding
  scholarship and independent reasoning (Ijtihad).
• Advancing the Arabic language.

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Pillars of the Knowledge Society - 4
An Arab general knowledge model authentic, open
and enlightened - 2

• Evoking the illuminations of the Arab knowledge
  heritage.
• Enriching, supporting and celebrating cultural
  diversity within the nation.
• Opening-up to other cultures.

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Pillars of the Knowledge Society - 5
Opening-up to other cultures

• Stimulating Arabisation and translation into
  other languages.
• Intelligent borrowing from non-Arab cultural
  circles.
• Maximising benefit from regional and
  international organisations.
• Reforming the global order through reinforcing
  Arab co-operation.

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Implications of AHDR2, 1
Comprehensive reform is now essential

• Partial reform will not do any more. If at all
  feasible! Starting from any angle, one ends up
  with the entire societal formation.
• Reform of societal Context has become crucially
  important. But clearly, daunting.
• Intl. cooperation is used to the partial-sectoral!

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Implications of AHDR2, 2
Politics is the prime candidate for reform

• At the national, regional and global levels
• Arabs need to build basic reform fundamentals
  from within.
• But cannot build a knowledge society in
  isolation. Effective exchange with the rest of
  humanity, based on mutual respect and
  understanding, is a must.

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Implications of AHDR2, 3
Friends can surely help.

• The challenge of building the knowledge society
  in the Arab countries does not rest only with
  Arabs.
• It faces their friends as well.
• It will take courage, ingenuity and, above all,
  tact and sensitivity.