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What happens in the Arab world affects the whole world: the oil crisis of the 1970s, or the Arab Spring, which led to the great migration crisis. This is why it is important to focus on the Arab world, which is not really a united region, but a divided one," says Meszar Tárik, Senior Researcher at the Migration Research Institute, who was interviewed by Blanka Kovács, an analyst at the Institute, about his new book, The Arab Mind.
Middle East, Arab world, Islamic world - these are often used interchangeably by the Western world, although - although there are overlaps - they mean three different worlds," said Meszár Tárik. A senior researcher at the Migration Research Institute, Meszar began studying this world at an early age through his Iraqi father. He learned Arabic from the age of 4, graduated from university with a degree in Oriental Languages and Cultures and has since been studying minorities in the Arab world, especially Christians. In her book she describes Arab culture, their customs and traditions. He said that this book is a guide for those who want to find their way in the Arab world.
This part of the world is home to vast reserves of raw materials, important trade routes pass through this region, which is why it is often the scene of great power games. If something happens here, it has a big impact on the whole world," he said. The great migration wave is a good example: the discontent of the people living here and unemployment triggered a huge wave of migrants to Europe in 2015.
Meszár Tárik starts his book with the pre-Islamic period of Arabia, before the 7th century, because this period had a great impact on the present day. The pre-Islamic period gave rise, among other things, to the law of blood vengeance, which, although forbidden today, still exists. But it is from this period that the tribal organisation of societies and the primacy of tribal interests have been preserved and continue to prevail today.
As for the Arab mindset, the author said that it is a divided region with many different ways of thinking, but that the general characteristic is the importance they attach to respect for the family and the elderly, and to religiousness. Asked to what extent religion has contributed to today's crises, the researcher said that the Palestinian-Israeli conflict was primarily a territorial conflict from the outset, not a religious one, but of course there is a religious dimension to it, because Jerusalem is seen as a holy city and is wanted by all.
In addition to religion, the discussion also touched on traditions and superstitions, which are still prevalent today, and the situation of women. In this context, Meszár Tárik said that, although the European way of thinking about this issue still seems very outdated, the situation of women has improved since the spread of Islam, since before the 7th century women had no rights.
On the subject of minorities, the researcher reported on his fieldwork experiences in recent years and said that there are countries, such as Iraq, where there is no security, no work and no schools for minority Christians. These are some of the problems that the Hungary Helps Program is trying to help with.
Of course, one of the biggest crises of our time, migration, was also mentioned. According to the researcher, the main problem is mass immigration and the fact that many Muslims do not identify with Western thinking. The more educated classes can integrate more quickly, but the uneducated, who do not really know their own culture, cannot assimilate," Meszár Tárik stressed.
The main message of the book "The Arab Mind" is that the Arab world is a very diverse and heterogeneous region, made up of many different cultures and identities, and that we should not generalise about them.
