Authority and reform

Many plans have been proposed outlining the diagnosis and the cure for the corruption witnessed in the current local scenario. Some exceptional ideas have highlighted the necessity of changing "the approach" itself rather than the people in charge.

In fact, in order for comprehensive reform to take place, it is not the economic or the political approach that needs to be changed; rather, it is the cultural approach, or the mentality, that governs the collective unconscious behind all these "sub-approaches".

Arab-Islamic history shows that the collective mentality has been governed by an excessive and unquestionable reverence for authority, both physical and metaphysical, whether represented in figures or ideas rooted in heritage. This is the crux of all ills, as it has endowed the Arab case with the claim that it possesses the absolute truth, which should not be altered as it is coming from the unquestionable authority!

Ironically, reform, by definition, necessitates change; thus, it follows that blind obedience to authority, which claims to possess the truth, is the opponent of reform. The remedy for this dilemma resides in building a culture of critical thinking that shakes the ground under unquestionable authority.

Evidently, the educational system is the best choice for establishing a critical thinking environment. History clearly shows that the European Enlightenment has been built by philosophers, thinkers and professors who have called into question all ironclad beliefs. Importantly enough, the state power has been aiding this movement; since without its aid, revolutionary ideas would have been aborted! Such logistic support from local powers is imperative in the local case. Clearly enough, this process needs generations to be fully accomplished. Still, it should be started, otherwise, the illusion of attaining a quick sociopolitical or economic change will consume all efforts. We need to subvert the source, not the branches!

The writer holds a PhD in English Literature and Criticism from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He contributed this article to The Jordan Times