ROSEN, Lawrence

Expecting the unexpected : cultural components of arab governance - Thousand Oaks : SAGE, January 2006

The development of democracy in the Arab world does not always pay sufficient attention to the cultural foundations of Arab political and social life. Concepts of the person, time, memory, and relationship need to be considered as vital elements of the political cultures of these countries. Against that background, it may be possible to suggest elements of constitutional and legal organization that are more in keeping with Arab cultural orientations, rather than supposing that the imposition of Western constitutional forms will necessarily suit local needs in the Middle East.