Understanding Arabs: A Guide for Modern Times

283 Pages·2005·4.81 MB·English

by  Margaret K. Nydell

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Praise for the previous editions
of
Understanding Arabs
and Margaret Nydell
For 15 years, Margaret Nydell’s Understanding Arabshas been used by
countless Americans preparing to work or live in the Arab World. It is a
unique source; there is nothing like it. Written with wit as well as seri-
ousness, it provides a sound cultural appreciation as well as basic data on
the region. A new appendix, “Muslims and Arabs in the West,” consti-
tutes a major innovation in the third edition. But her personal message
regarding the tragic events of September 11 should be required reading
by all who make decisions or write commentary on the Arab world.
—MAXL. GROSS
Joint Military Intelligence College
This is an important and fascinating book, especially for Americans in
the crucial time in U.S.–Arab relations. Dr. Nydell presents a timely,
lucid, and engaging guide to the values and cultures of the Arab World,
based on her many years of working and living there and on her training
as a professional linguist. This candid and wonderfully readable book
captures the contrasts and the characteristics of this great civilization
and brings them vividly to life for a Western audience.
—KARINRYDING, PH.D.
SULTANQABOOSBINSAIDPROFESSOROFARABIC
Chair of the Department of Arabic Language
Georgetown University
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Ever wonder what the Arabs are thinking? Understanding Arabs offers
both an analysis and a perspective that are in great demand. This book
covers what the media typically overlook and what is necessaryto make
some sense of what is going on. We have relied on this source of cultural
information for many years. I have found no other book in English to
be so useful.
—COLONELTERRENCEM. POTTER
US Military Academy
Middle East specialists have long relied on their worn copies of
Understanding Arabs for insights about Arab social behavior. Following
September 11, a third edition of this classic could not be more timely.
A whole generation of U.S. diplomats were introduced to the subject
by Dr. Nydell...in the 1970s and 1980s. In this concise and practical
guide, she shares her wealth of scholarly and real-world experience,
and she does so without the psycho-babble that too often dominates the
other surveys of the subject.
—AMBASSADORDAVIDL. MACK, VICEPRESIDENT
Middle East Institute, Washington, D.C.
Among other things, the events of September 11 dramatized our igno-
rance as Americans about Arabs and Islam. This book helps to fill that
void by exploring the enormous misconceptions that we hold about
each other. In this work…Nydell explores both the background and
context for our mutual misunderstandings. She discusses beliefs and
values, relationships between men and women, etiquette and social
structure, communication styles, religion, the Arabic language, and
both the similarities and differences among the various Arab nations.
As a result, we not only recognize the basis for misunderstanding but
also the need for increased information and communication…A must
read book for all!
—ALVINOE. FANTINI, FORMERPRESIDENT, SIETAR INTERNATIONAL
Senior Faculty, School for International Training
Brattleboro, Vermont
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U
NDERSTANDING
A
RABS
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U
NDERSTANDING
A
RABS
A GUIDE FOR MODERN TIMES
Fourth Edition
Margaret K. Nydell
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First published by Intercultural Press, a division of Nicholas Brealey Publishing, in 2006.
Intercultural Press, Inc., Nicholas Brealey Publishing
a division of Nicholas Brealey Publishing 3-5 Spafield Street, Clekenwell
100 City Hall Plaza, Suite 501 London, EC1R 4QB, UK
Boston, MA 02108 USA Tel: [phone]
Information: 617-523-3801 Fax: [phone]
Fax: [phone] www.nbrealey-books.com
www.interculturalpress.com
© 2006, 2002, 1996, 1988 by Margaret K. Nydell
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever with-
out written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in criti-
cal articles or reviews.
Printed in the United States of America
10 09 08 07 06 1 2 3 4 5
ISBN-13:978-1-931930-25-3
ISBN-10: 1–931930–25–2
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Nydell, Margaret K. (Margaret Kleffner)
Understanding Arabs: A Guide for Modern Times / Margaret K. Nydell.-- 4th ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 1-931930-25-2
1. Arabs. I. Title.
DS36.77.N93 2006
909'.04927--dc22
2006019008
Cover Design: Rara Avis Graphic Design
Text Design: Alisa Andreola/Dartmouth Publishing, Inc.
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Contents
A Message from the Author..................................................................................xiii
Map of the Arab World................................................................................................xx
Preface......................................................................................................................................xxi
Introduction: Patterns of Change..............................................................................................1
Modernization 1
The Arab Human Development Reports 6
The Effects of Change 7
The Muslim View 8
Facing the Future 11
1 • Beliefs and Values..................................................................................................................13
Basic Arab Values 15
Basic Arab Religious Attitudes 15
Basic Arab Self-Perceptions 16
2 • Friends and Strangers..................................................................17
The Concept of Friendship 17
Reciprocal Favors 17
Introductions 19
Visiting Patterns 20
vii
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viii Understanding Arabs: A Guide for Modern Times
Business Friendships 22
Office Relations 23
Criticism 24
Intermediaries 25
Private and Public Manners 26
3 • Emotion and Logic...............................................................................................................27
Objectivity and Subjectivity 27
Fatalism 28
What Is Reality? 28
The Human Dimension 30
Persuasion 31
4 • Getting Personal......................................................................................................................33
Personal Questions 33
Sensitive Subjects 34
Social Distance 35
Gestures 37
Names 38
5 • Men and Women...................................................................................................................43
Social Interaction 43
Displaying Intimacy 45
The Status of Women 45
Women’s Right to Vote 46
Women in Government Positions 47
Women’s Power in the Family 48
The Headscarf and the Veil 49
Polygamy 50
Traditional Gender Roles 52
Western Women 53
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Contents ix
6 • Social Formalities and Etiquette..............................................................................55
Hospitality 55
Time and Appointments 57
Discussing Business 58
Sharing Meals 59
Smoking 62
Rules of Etiquette 62
7 • The Social Structure...........................................................................................................67
Social Classes 67
Image and Upper-Class Behavior 68
Dealing with Service People 69
8 • The Role of the Family.....................................................................................................71
Family Loyalty and Obligations 71
Relations among Family Members 73
Marriage 75
Divorce 76
Child-Rearing Practices 77
Talking about Your Family 78
9 • Religion and Society............................................................................................................81
Religious Affiliation 81
Religious Practices 81
The Religion of Islam 83
The Qur’an and the Bible 87
Passages from the Qur’an 90
10 • Communicating with Arabs..........................................................................................93
Varieties of Arabic 94
The Superiority of Arabic 95
The Prestige of Classical Arabic 95