Given the complex environment we now live in relative to even thirty years ago, old systems of government and governance no longer meet the needs and expectations of society. The new movement is about innovation in people.
Innovation brought about by a change in leadership and key movers and shakers is critical to sustain organisations and society into the future. We should recognise societal change and introduce appropriate new language to define a more productive and constructive future. In this respect, for so long the language of rebellion has been Spanish or Eastern European, maybe even Vietnamese. However, since January 2011, Arabic has become a different language. It has become the language of revolt and rebellion, and of freedom. Suddenly the whole world knows that the Arabic word for liberation is ‘tahrir’. As Marina Mahathir from Malaysia wrote recently, those of us on Twitter also learnt the word ‘Yalla!’ (roughly, Viva!). Other new words for us:
• Amal = Hope • Democratiyyah = Democracy • Karamah = Dignity • Kefaya! = Enough!
How important is it to have this new language of revolution? It is hugely important because language represents mind-sets. So when language changes, mind-sets also change. And with these new Arabic words we are learning, we are also learning about a new kind of Arab. Previously we knew of only two kinds of Arabs. Type 1: 1. The fantastically wealthy Arab oil sheikh who goes to Harrods in London and buys up everything without bothering with the price tags. 2. The cartoon stereotype is of the Arab
sheikh in his white jubah and red and white headdress, being chauffeured in his sleek limousine accompanied by his four wives.
We looked on this wealth as somehow God- given because after all they are Arabs, they guard the Holy Cities and surely it must be all blessed by God.
Type 2: 1. Very holy Arab, intoning away on all the evils of the world, all of which seem to emanate from the West. 2. They are almost always men in their long
‘If we are the best in what we do, others will follow us’ rather than attempting most other traditional forms of leadership.
beards. We worship them because they seem holy and they seem to do the ‘right’ things, beginning with putting women under covers, and they must surely be guaranteed a place in heaven. And we shall start by emulating their clothing!
Now the new stereotypes of who Arabs are have changed to:
social networking 4. Technology savvy, and 5. Many are well travelled
1. Better educated 2. Watch Al Jazeera + CNN + BBC World 3. Googles, Twitters + uses Facebook for
September 2011 | Management Today 61
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95