Citation

Maziak W. Int. J. Public Health 2009; 54(5): 349-355.

Affiliation

School of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA. wmaziak@memphis.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s00038-009-0061-7

PMID

19834657

Abstract

The overall picture of the Arab world today is dire; no Arab country is free from political strife, foreign intervention, or the threat of terrorism. Continuing instability and the failure of national governments to uphold the rule of law and deliver on development are tearing apart the fabric of Arab societies. Internally, Arab regimes' agendas are shaped by security and their makeup by kinship and loyalty, pushing people to seek refuge within their primordial loyalties. From the outside, foreign meddling in the name of "democracy" is deepening the Arab world's instability, therefore providing justification for opponents of change to discredit the values of human rights and power sharing. In such an environment, the voiceless majority becomes the main victims, with detrimental effects on their physical and mental wellbeing. A domino-like breakdown of the Arab region, with serious consequences for world's stability, is becoming an increasingly likely scenario.

Language: en