The Modern & Western Divide? An Illusory construct

Prior to enrolling in this class I considered myself rather cultured, worldly, open-minded. Most people don’t brand themselves as racist or prejudice, but every individual inhabits preconceived notions some which perhaps brand. My perception of the Arab world or a typical Arab village hit me hard, when we had the architecture specialist come in to talk about Dubai development. He asked the class early on what first came to our mind when we hear “Arab village.” I along with others, but to my surprise, immediately conjured an image in my head of a dirt road, perhaps including an outdoor market place, and undeveloped- definitely a far cry from a leading metropolis. But of course there are many in the Arab world. I grew up in an extremely liberal inclusive community and have traveled quite a bit over the last few years to eastern and western Europe while studying abroad. Even when I was younger, exposed to cultural differences I took international politics of the Middle East last semester to expose myself to the history of the middle east region and understand more of Israel’s context in relation to its neighboring countries. I have always been a proponent and advocate of a two state solution- which I truly hope that perhaps will result in the coming 50 years or century- only so long as people from both sides want it.

Yet until sitting in this course and forcing myself to analyze my perceptions and knowledge of the Arab world i have reversed and challenged preconceived notions that i didn't know i had. Do Modernity and a Western lifestyle have to co-exist interdependently? why is it that much of the world or perhaps the western world perceives the West as the developed and the Rest as lagging (our centrist perceptions)? it's not that the solely the West has thriving cities and other regions don'tt but the real descrepencncy results because of societal perceptions, self-interests, and economic goals inhibiting equal world development. Perhaps those interferences serving as the force inhibiting perception and full development The Arab World or any region such as Africa. The course proved that the Arab World can embrace modernity and continue to live as it wishes- proving that the divide does have to me the modern west and the rest. modernity isn't owned by the west- it has been claimed and ought to be embraced by many more.