Understanding Arabic Culture

FBI Critical Incident Response Group, Crisis Negotiation Unit ^

[mikenola]

UNDERSTANDING ARABIC CULTURE

Understanding A Culture

Understanding Arabic Culture

• Arabic culture and the Islamic faith are deeply intertwined.

• Islam is the most dominating, single influence in the Arab world.

The Arab World

• Twenty countries encompass the "Arab world."
• Governments include: Monarchies, military governments and socialist republics.
• All embrace Islam
• Arabs are more similar in their outlook on life than Westerners.

Arabic Beliefs

• Most things in life are controlled by God.
• Children are the "jewels" of the family.
• Wisdom increases with age.
• Inherent roles and responsibilities of men and women are vastly different.

Arabic Beliefs

• They share basic beliefs and values that cross national or social boundaries.
• Personal beliefs are influenced by Islam and are shared by non-Muslims.
• Examples;
• A strong family structure.
• Different roles for male and female children.

Arabic Values

• A person’s dignity, honor and reputation are of paramount importance.
• It is important to behave at all times in a way which will create a good impression.
• Loyalty to one’s family takes precedence over personal needs

Arabic Values

• Social class and family background are the major determining factors of personal status, followed by individual character and achievement.

Religious Beliefs

• Everyone should believe in God and have a religious affiliation.
• Humans cannot control all events.
• Dependent upon God (fate).
• There should be no separation between church and state.
• Religion should be taught in schools and promoted by governments.

Religious Beliefs

• Piety is one of the most admirable characteristics in a person.
• Religious tenets should not be subjected to liberal interpretations.
• Threatens established beliefs.
• Moslems belong to several different sects.
• Islamic law (Sharia) takes precedent over all other law.

Arabic Self Perceptions

• They are generous, humanitarian, polite and loyal.
• They have a rich cultural heritage.
• They have a history of literature, medicine, art, mathematics and sciences.
• They are a cultural group and members of the "Arab Nation".

Arabic Self Perceptions

• The Arab people have been victimized and exploited by the West.
• Western culture weakens traditional family ties and religious values
• Will have a corrupting influence on Arab society.
• Arabs are misunderstood and wrongly characterized by most Westerners.

Arabic Traditions

• Friendship is based on a relationship in which it is the duty of the friend to help to the best of his ability.
• Good manners require that one never openly refuses a request from a friend.
• Requests need not be done.
• It is discourteous to say "No".

Arabic Traditions

• Western culture: Actions speak louder than words
• Arab culture: Words without action have value (avoids conflict and saves face)
• "Yes" is being polite, as required by culture.
• Yes may mean "maybe"
• "As God wills it" may mean "No".
• "Do this for my sake" will incur indebtedness.

Arabic Traditions

• Arabs tend to provide details about their personal lives and connections.
• Honor and dignity flow from the family.

• Provides a look into the associates of the person being spoken to.

• People that are mentioned first may form the foundation for the subject’s life.

Arabic Traditions

• Arabs are a socially-oriented people.
• Expect to receive requests
• Return favors in kind
• People who are relaxed and personable enough to establish relationships are most successful.
• Arabs like to be praised in public.
• SOUND SINCERE!

Arabic Traditions

• Pride is one of the mainstays of the Arab character.
• To establish good rapport, be aware that self-esteem is of foremost importance.

Arabic Thinking

• Subjectivity and emotional outbursts are more common in Arab culture and deemed more acceptable.
• Arabs reserve the right to look at the world in a subjective way.

Arabic Thinking

• Fatalism based on religious beliefs is very common.
• Arabs are more likely to allow subjective perceptions to direct their actions.
• An Arab will rarely admit to an error if it will cause loss of face.
• Honor is more important than facts.

Human Dimensions

• Arabs believe in persons, not in institutions.
• Arabs are usually not as angry as they appear.
• Their emotions connote a deep and sincere concern for the outcome of the decision.
• Never expect a "yes" or "no" answer to a sensitive matter.
• The answer may be somewhere in between.

Human Dimensions

• Good manners constitute an important factor in evaluating a person’s character.
• Patience is critical.
• Arabs have plenty of time.
• Little need to accommodate people in a hurry.

Human Dimensions

• Family loyalty and obligations take precedent over loyalty to friends or the demands of a job.
• Religious affiliation is essential for every person in Arab society:
• There is no place for atheists or agnostics.
• Other religions and their practices are generally treated with respect.

[alloysteel]

What's to understand. They want Western people DEAD.

[Wright is right!]

Seems to me that one could distill a lot of this down to two points:

• Truth is relative - and

• Truth is relatives.

  Michael

[Lil'freeper]

Western culture weakens traditional family ties and religious values

Sure enough! Western culture would put an end to legal wife beatings and honor killings.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Islamists believe that:

1. Wife-beating is an act of virtue.
2. A rape victim has dishonored her family.
3. A rape victim has sinned against the man who raped her
4. It is virtuous to behead a child you wrongly believe has been raped.
5. A woman who commits adultery should be stoned to death.
6. A man who commits adultery should help stone the woman he had adultery with to death.

[Ooh-Ah]

Do you have a more direct link for this information? I was not able to find what you posted from the source link.

[PetroniDE]

You forgot one.

It is permissible to gang rape a sister of a man who has committed adultery, rape, or sex outside of marriage.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Thanks.

[mikenola]

sorry, i couldnt find it their either. This was a Powerpoint that came via email.

[Hugin]

Arab culture: Words without action have value (avoids conflict and saves face)
"Yes" is being polite, as required by culture.
Yes may mean "maybe"
Arabs reserve the right to look at the world in a subjective way.
An Arab will rarely admit to an error if it will cause loss of face.
Honor is more important than facts.

All of which helps explain why any treaty signed with Arabs isn't worth the paper it's written on.

[LiteKeeper]

read later

[tet68]

Most things in life are controlled by God.

Only Most? What controls the rest?

[Delbert]

All of which helps explain why any treaty signed with Arabs isn't worth the paper it's written on. <---Actually it would be worth what ever the current market value of toilet paper is?

[Jason_b]

Only Most? What controls the rest?

Satan.

[Jason_b]

Or the U.S. I guess it is the same thing to the Arabs.

[jpl]

7. Lying to an infidel is not only acceptable, but in some cases required.

[ramdalesh]

You are very crazy man

[Admin Moderator]

Please, not here. Thanks, AM