Is American Constitution available in Arabic? Well, it does exist but is it available in Bagdad, Cairo, Istanbul, Beirut and Tehran? How is the ‘propaganda’ money for the promotion of democracy spent anyway? Can we trust Karen Hughes and her ilk to do this job? After all the hundreds of millions of dollars spent by the American government to promote democracy and freedom, what is not taught in Arabic universities and what is not available in Arabic languages makes for very sobering reading.
Today in Informed Comment, Juan Cole writes on his new initiative the Global American Institute, whose objective is to address the ‘woeful lack of understanding between the United States and the Muslim world’. Prof. Cole himself has been a stellar voice in filling this lacuna in the United States through his commentary and scholarship, which he has shared for many years now through his blog. His new initiative shifts the focus to the Muslim world and aims to translate / publish ‘central works of American thought and history’ into Arabic and possibly establish an endowed chair in an Arabic university.
Cole says there is no insruction in Arabic on America and none of the texts of American political thought are available in Arabic. As he very rightly points out, the onus is on us to address this lacuna. I believe Cole’s initiative deserves our support. We all can do a great deal to help him to build a large network of people and institutions. Well, then there is always our own time, expertise and resources. All at your disposal, Prof. Cole.
Aside: See this review article in today’s NYTimes on Stephen Kenzer’s new book Overthrow, a critical look at US campaign historically to spread democracy and freedom in the non-European world. Here is another review in the Washington Post.
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