Sufism and Arab Nationalism - Research Paper Example

?Arab Nationalism: Sufism played an integral role in uniting the Muslims under the banner of common flag. Schwartz has been analyzed and assessed in this regard as to what effect it had on the nationalistic movements amongst the Muslim states. Sufism gave the oppressed Muslims a platform to protect themselves from any kind of hardships and injustices that were inflicted upon them from all corners and notably the Serbian segments in the neighboring communities. With oppression all around, one only form of resistance brewed in the minds of Muslims and that was of physical assault, however, Schwartz’s mission and motto did not entail the hard way of countering the enemy. Schwartz further believes in the fact that it is the legitimacy of United States that stands valid against the actions of the usurpers around. To Schwartz it is the political participation and activity of Wahabism and Saudism that has led to the disparity and turbulence within the Muslims ranks and force must be used against them in order to neutralize the impact and provide Muslims with a better chance of protection of their political inspirations in the desired manner (Mikhail). Adeed Dawisha has taken into account the overall scenario with study and analysis of multiple retrospectives to analyze the situation and causes of Arab Nationalism and the overall effects associated with it. Adeed Dawisha has taken into account the perspective of the Israeli writers as well to assess the overall scenario in a more transparent manner. The writer has tried to assess the situation and phenomenon of Arab Nationalism from the perspective of political face and the factors and elements it incorporated in the social spectrum. The book provides an effective account of the events and the concepts based on the fact and support of the study of multiple social systems and political orders. The book does and the author does not limit itself to the study of Arab and Nationalism as a force, rather takes into account the parallel social systems of the western world as well to analyze the exact situation at hand. Arab Nationalism has a touch and shade of one of the ethnocentric approach that came to forth prior to it. This was in form of the Western cultural and nationalistic movement. Where the policies and manifestos were in line with the agenda of promoting their culture and society. The periods of study and focus in the entire study that seek more attention are the ones during the middle of First World War and the ones that were right before the start of Second World War. The two events were significant on multiple accounts and accords. The first being that of the vulnerable and nearly collapsed state of Ottoman Empire right in the middle of First World War where the Empire and Caliphate was on its last leg and needed a mere kick to come down. The second on account of the Second World War was that of Jewish settlements in that region that were thick and heavy during those days and were an open challenge to the Arab States and it broadly invoked the feeling of extended and hardliner nationalism amongst Muslims for the purpose of defending their values and independence from the challenges faced in multiple forms. Karsh & Efraim(Karsh) have tried to assess and understand the concept of Arab Nationalism and the Pan Arab movement. They have evaluated that the overall movement is based on the concept of oneness, unity and integration of the Muslim nations into one. Densely rich with the natural resources and other territorial and strategic advantages and edge against the other parts of the world, they felt the need for capitalizing on this advantage and making use of their policies and actions in a more collective way that would allow protection of their agendas and manifestos in the desired manner. The study also takes into account the important dimension of the reasons that have contributed towards the stalemate in the achievement of goals in the overall journey of Pan Arab movement. Century long movement is challenged with multiple threats all round. This comes in form of the Western Imperial forces that dominated and manipulated the terms and made their way into the political and social spectrum of Arab region. The internal weakness which invited the Western Imperialism was one of the reasons behind the failure and the infiltration of the outside elements to penetrate and obstruct the way of nationalism as a strong force and wall against any kind of oppression. The establishment of an alien Jewish state is the seed of the same failure on account of inability to protect the region from foreign elements. Ottoman Empire’s sole existence and the representative of the Muslim world at that time was a subjective appearance of the Muslims ambitions in the region, one other element and incident that did not do much justice to the overall move of Pan Arab movement was that of Fouad Ajami (Karsh) who demonstrated the practical form of revolt against the Pan Arab movement. The second element was the difference in the nationalistic movements within, with Palestinian movement marked by struggle for independence, Libyan nationalistic movement that of a military dictator becoming the sole authority over all the social and political factors. The Suez crisis in 1956 was another factor that changed the outlook of Nationalistic Arab movement to a considerable degree when Egypt direct came in conflict and confrontation with Israel. Disputes within the Arab and Muslim leaders was an account that did not do much favor and justice to the nationalistic movement, one of these came to forth in form of the rivalry and dispute between Egypt’s Gamel Naseer and Iraq’s Abdel Kareem Qasseem. Terming Iraq’s incumbent premier and head of state as illegitimate one, the two enjoyed little cordial relationships and had bitter period of diplomatic activities with each other. Each had their own points and concerns against one another, and regardless of the validity and the basis of accusations it was the weakening within that was seen as a result of conflict and the direct casualty of it was the Pan Arab movement that was build up with the motive of bringing the Arabs together against any outside force and oppressive movement. Arab nationalistic movement has seen change in its outlook with regard to the policies of several Arab States during the entire course of it. One of the most prominent one came to forth in the middle of 50s decade when Egypt decided to mould and adjust its policies and it decided to distance itself from the conventional and hardliner feeling and resolve of the Arab nationalistic mindset. In the same manner more sporadic changes came to forth through the change in policy and manifesto in the years between 1958 and 1963. Feeling thwarted and vulnerable to the Israel’s expansion and its alleged and potential occupation of the resources of Arab states forced them to move aside from the Pan Arab movement and integrate themselves into the force of one unit against Israel that they considered little legitimate in its existence in the region. The Boer war resulted in the race for resources and land amongst the Imperialistic states within. And this as a whole precipitated the overall cause of World war One that was to be fought later in the century with two distinctive blocs coming into shape each driven by the motive of protecting the lands, and other gains made in the previous centuries and decades. With one side (Great Britain enjoying supremacy on the sea, and the Germans enjoying maximum strength on the land) the two were at loggerheads in the entire game of imperialistic pursuits. Amidst the Boer expansion, United States of America showed clemency towards the claims of Great Britain and their overall views and stance can be evaluated as one of soft corner towards the English against the Germans and other imperial ambitions holder nations such as the Dutch and Soviet Republic. The support came formally in an official way from the then President Theodore Roosevelt (Jonas) who supported their claims and provided not only diplomatic and political support but also aided them with financial help where ever it was needed. Russia being an effective entity at that time also saw its chances and participated in a covert manner and played the game of wait and see in the overall imperialistic expansions early in the 20th century. The Dutch were an equal party and they aimed at maintaining their dominance and presence in a certain way. The Dutch enjoyed a history of past that granted them sufficient support and domination of land. Portugal was also a beneficiary of the overall war and expansion that took place in form of the Boer war during the juncture of early 20th century. The imperialistic endeavors were executed and put into force through the force of social penetration and economic agenda with the claims of providing the lands with opportunities of enhancing their social progress, economic development and educational awareness within. However this came at the cost of the manipulation of the political terms and distribution of resources amongst the usurpers themselves. Adeed Dawisha also casts an insight into the differences that established between the original Arab Nationalistic movement thinkers and the Ottoman Empire associates. The author tries understanding the factors which forced a certain segment of the Muslims within who advocated the separation of the movement and backing towards the Ottoman Empire from the overall journey and struggle of Arab nationalistic movement. Another point of difference between the Arab states comes to forth in the views shared by the Palestinians and Egyptians over the methods and procedures that must be adopted to protect the cause of Palestine and advocate it on the global platform for the purpose of liberating it from any outside force that had crept in within the ranks of Muslims of Arabia and Middle East who had previously enjoyed a history of complete dominance in the region. Boer War was an act of imperialistic pursuit that was one of the many that took place in that era, with South Africa being captured by the Great Britain early in the 20th century. The other western imperialist had their own motives from it and showed little agreement over this move and wanted the spoils and shares out of the entire feat. This came about in parallel and was of similar level like United State’s expedition into Spanish Colonies across the world and the most prominent one being that of the Mexican ambitions. References: Jonas, Kauffeldt,. "Arab Nationalism: A History." History. 2002.Press. Karsh, Efraim. "Reflections on Arab Nationalism." Middle East Studies. 1996.Press. S, Mikhail, Bill. "Arab Nationalism in the Twentieth Century: From Triumph to Despair." Middle East Policy. 2003.Press. Read More