Critique of Western Development Discourses and Arab Development Failure

The introduction of Ali al-Qadri's book strongly criticizes Western discourses on development in the Global South, emphasizing their abysmal failure to achieve a dignified life for the people of these countries. The author attributes this failure to the dominance of the capitalist and neoliberal economic vision, leading to the confiscation of desired development and the plundering of the South's resources through wars of hegemony, with the complicity of local elites. The Arab region is highlighted as no exception, trapped in "anti-development" characterized by poverty, debt, unemployment, and loss of sovereignty. The book calls for a new intellectual model to understand this failure, deeming neoliberal analysis inadequate and harmful. It stresses the need to rethink development, emphasizing that changes in ruling elites and philosophies must precede economic shifts, viewing development as a civilizational process rooted in a worldview and undertaken by independent, self-governing societies. The introduction concludes by underscoring the importance of a comprehensive understanding of Arab development, which the book aims to provide.

Qadri's Analysis of Arab Development Obstacles

Dr. Ali al-Qadri's book presents a vision and model for interpreting the obstacles to development in the Arab world and its failure, termed the "reverse development process." The book, comprising an introduction and nine chapters, offers an analysis of this failure, critiquing the prevailing theory that prioritizes the private sector, free markets, and good governance as sufficient for development. Qadri posits that development is a deeper "civilizational project" born from political struggle led by the working class and based on power-sharing among social classes, not just economic policies. The book argues that the Arab world's crisis is socially entrenched, fueled by disintegration and artificial conflicts, and influenced by regional dynamics (oil and war), imperialist interventions, and neoliberal policies. It concludes that development failure is a shared responsibility between imperialism and its Arab partners, with neoliberal policies acting as indirect colonialism. The book ends by questioning how to overcome this dynamic. Dr. al-Qadri, a university professor with relevant prior works, focuses his research on the political economy of war and its impact on development in West Asia.

Qadri's Proposed Socialist Alternative

Qadri proposes an alternative for achieving development rooted in political awareness and a socialist framework. He argues that development failure stems from intellectual defeat and the dominance of Western ideas, asserting that genuine development depends on the nature of those in power, who often exploit resources in collaboration with American imperialism. Consequently, he advocates for the revival of an alternative ideology and breaking the cycle of dependence through political consciousness capable of confronting imperialism and implementing a socialist alternative that secures the well-being of the working class. Qadri suggests "reimagining the international socialist project" as a pathway to Arab development through global solidarity, emphasizing the Arab region's central role in the global economy shaped by finance, militarization, and oil. He calls for a global alliance of the working classes, led by the Arab working class, to dismantle capital and its wars. He also proposes an alliance between China and the Arab world as a mechanism for realizing popular will in development, extending this alliance to other exploited working classes. Qadri believes that the dominance of the socialist alternative will replace sectarian identities with working-class alliances, foster self-reliance, and shape democratic policies that restructure classes. He urges the communist vanguard and the working class in the South to resist capital and its ideologies, highlighting resistance as crucial for societal regeneration and defeating the cross-border ruling alliance.

Critique of Qadri's Ideas and Assumptions

Qadri's book presents several significant and debatable ideas, including:

• The Role of the Soviet Union: The review questions the direct link between the absence of the Soviet Union and the ferocity of liberalism, noting the Soviet Union's own problematic developmental record and role in exploiting the Global South.
• Ambiguity of Class Concepts: The concepts of the Arab and global working classes are deemed vague and lacking concrete definitions.
• Exclusion of National Identity: Qadri's focus solely on class analysis and Marxist ideology is criticized for overlooking the crucial role of national identity and the potential of Islam in development.
• Impact of Translation Delay: The time gap between the book's writing and translation is seen as a factor making its analysis of political Islam somewhat outdated.
• Contradiction Regarding China: The book's positive view of China as a potential ally is contradicted by Qadri's own statements about China's alignment against Arab working-class interests and its complicity with exploitative powers.
• Gaps in the Socialist Alternative: The proposed socialist alternative lacks detailed explanations of distributive policies, alternative ownership models, and analysis of transnational corporations.
• Need for Language Simplification: The book's language is considered too complex for a wider audience.

The review notes further unelaborated criticisms and acknowledges the translator's and others' additional points.

Overall Assessment and Call for Dialogue

This is a passionate and critical review of Ali al-Qadri's book, described as transformative and inspiring action, knowledge, and struggle, blending engaging style with strong, humanistic arguments. The book is seen as both enjoyable and painful, challenging readers to take responsibility for changing the world. It is lauded as a thought-provoking and enduring work that renews the spirit of fighting for justice. The reviewer finds personal resonance with the book and believes it would be even more impactful if Qadri had focused on the broader concept of the oppressed, particularly Muslims, and engaged with Islamic texts as deeply as with Marxist ones. The book is positioned as a new Arab-infused socialist manifesto against savage capitalism. While acknowledging the book's flaws, the reviewer emphasizes its important message and calls for a productive dialogue between Marxist and Islamic perspectives on the alternative needed for the Arab world, focusing on the roots of capitalist inequality and the foundations of a civilizational development project. The reviewer, holding an Islamic perspective, questions why those within the Islamic intellectual tradition have not produced a similarly compelling and deeply analyzed alternative. Ultimately, the book's core benefit is seen in its articulation of the idea that a nation's life and death are tied to its self-perception and adherence to its dignity. The review concludes by noting Qadri's Marxist-based analysis of Arab development under imperialist dominance and his call for a communist alternative, while questioning the absence of Muslim thinkers offering an Islamic alternative rooted in their own epistemological framework.