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