Ali Al Matani -
THE Arabic mentality suffers, in general, excessive sensitivity towards criticism and highlighting the negative aspects at the different work areas. It suffers also the concerns of perfection in everything and converts the matters into something beyond its correct purpose aiming at reform and change.
Some entities go further than this by connecting some matters with people as if criticism is targeting those people or as if this or that entity is a private property that should not be approached or touched in any way.
This suffering experienced by the Arab mentality made our Arab World miss the accelerating march of progress that the world witnesses currently. It delayed more change and modernisation chances for the Arab foundations. The same suffering delayed also the thinking of the Arabs about keeping pace with the development and progress witnessed nowadays in many parts of the world due to their non-belief in Change sometimes and in Development another time as well as Progress in many times. It established fatal stereotypes in dealings that killed the aspirations towards the better status in the minds of young generations.
The determinants of this sterile philosophy in the management of governmental institutions and entities, in general, established the concepts of private property while managing the public institutions and made it dominant on the decision at these entities. Moreover, this philosophy personalised the matters in a way that does not leave any room for development and change. The said philosophy established also the culture of carelessness about what is addressed by the mass media.
This mentality contributed also in consolidating a unilateral way of management and favouritism at work. It helped in applying the principle of “Whoever is not with me is against me” while managing the institutions that became divided and lacking the harmony and agreement on the interests and benefits that serve the public interest to live a hidden conflict filled with accusations, plots and schemes, in addition to the lack of clarity and transparency in managing these institutions.
Of course, there is a conflict between the successive generations in all the institutions, but there should be some sort of respect for the different opinions and a civilised manner of managing the differences and disparity to achieve the public interests and respect the opinions of others. Unfortunately, the Arab Institutions lack these visions while treating the basic problem.
