Mohamed ElBaradei writes for Al-Jazeera Mubasher. Has the time for change come in the Arab world?

In the Arab world today, it is a dangerous phenomenon to categorize human identities according to a dimension, be they religious, sectarian, ethnic or national. We often hear voices saying that the Arab world does not exist, that Islam is our only identity, or that the persecution to which the Palestinian people are subjected does not belong to us.
This turmoil and uncertainty about our identity is a reaction and the result of decades of mismanagement of our wealth by autocrats, who have often engaged in power struggles for their own personal interests and at the expense of the public interest.

It is important that we begin to think about resetting our current course and making the choices that will be of fundamental importance in shaping our future.

This dangerous tendency to regard identity has contributed to the erosion of social cohesion and the fragmentation of the Arab world. It has also plunged many areas into a cycle of violence and misery. Unfortunately, this approach is completely contrary to the reality of our world today, which is characterized by the permanent movement of people, goods and ideas, and the dynamic exchange between cultures. From this point of view, identity has become more multidimensional and complex than before. Strenuous efforts are also made to highlight the common denominators among human beings and reduce the importance of differences, with the aim of promoting peaceful coexistence among peoples and nations.

This new perspective on understanding identity means that a person can be a Coptic Egyptian, a Shiite Lebanese, an Iraqi Kurd, or an Amazigh Moroccan. Nonetheless, what he shares with other citizens and neighbors in terms of commonalities such as language, roots, culture, history and geography overcomes any differences that may exist. This vision of identity is fundamental for the present in which we live and the future that we must build together.

In many parts of the Arab world, we have not even been able to agree on the required social contract which defines the fundamental values ​​and principles necessary to ensure social cohesion.

It is important, in this difficult time that the world is going through due to the pandemic, that we begin to think about redefining our current course and determining our choices which will be of fundamental importance in shaping our future. The question here is: is it better in terms of security, economic and social development, and civilizational and cultural progress to be isolated in small entities that do not have much room for maneuver, which makes them prey? easy for outside ambitions? Or is it better for us to look at models like the European Union and other emerging groupings around the world?
The members of these large political and economic groupings realize rightly that most of the dangers they face are cross-border dangers and that most of the challenges and opportunities they face require collective action.

If we conclude, as I hope, that it is in our interests of rapprochement and common action, we must first stop covering up our faults or blaming others. Then we enter into a deep and sober dialogue involving the educated elites of the Arab world, both at home and abroad, and it is the elites that have been largely marginalized. For this dialogue to be effective and efficient, it must also participate in civil society, which has been excluded and repressed for long periods of time, with the aim of having peoples present in this dialogue.
We need to focus on the mothers of things: who are we? What are the elements of our national security? What do we want to accomplish and what are the best ways to achieve it?

It is of the utmost importance to have an autonomous regional security system that depends on its members and whose capabilities can be trusted to protect us and our interests.

In many parts of the Arab world, we have not even been able to agree on the required social contract which defines the basic values ​​and principles necessary to ensure social cohesion. The sometimes ambiguous and sometimes controversial relationship between religion, morality and law, which has given rise to many conflicts and disputes, is a clear example of this.

Such dialogue will assure us that the Arab League, which was seen as the embodiment of our core identity, has become clinically dead. It will also show us that our regional security system has been turned upside down and has become dependent on help from outside forces in many cases. This is, of course, in addition to what the Arab Spring has demonstrated, namely that there is an urgent need to reform systems of government in terms of the rule of law, political participation and human rights. It will also be clear that we are at the bottom of our knees when it comes to our possession of the basic tools of progress, which are science, technology, education and scientific research, which is incomprehensible given the human resources and financial resources we have.

We urgently need a democratic, transparent and accountable system of government, supported by a vibrant civil society. We must also urgently learn to live together within and across borders as a single nation that accepts pluralism and respects minorities.

We must catch up with the modern world by investing in leading technology centers, world-class universities and first-rate study centers

Of the utmost importance is the existence of a regional security system that is self-sustaining, member-based and trusted to protect us and our interests. This system must be able to take the initiative to manage the complex relations with our neighbors. In this context, the dialogue with Iran and Turkey
Who we share a lot with and disagree with is something that cannot be delayed. It is also a vital priority to have a unified and clear strategy on how to deal with Israel’s blatant denial of Palestinian rights.

ElBaradei: We must end the futile wars and the horrible bloodshed that are crushing our people

We need to catch up with the modern world by investing in cutting-edge technology centers, top-notch universities, and world-class study centers. We must be an active contributor to civilization and not just a passive spectator.

Last but not least, we must end the futile wars and horrific bloodshed that are crushing our peoples, and we seek to resolve our differences through dialogue and coexistence. These wars are still a stain on our collective consciousness.

It is undoubtedly a daunting task, but I hope we have the courage and the wisdom to start taking the first steps. A gradual and comprehensive reform process is inevitable and time is not on our side if we are to avoid further deterioration and the risk of uncontrollable unrest and unrest.

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