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elza maalouf
November 2009 
Emerging Patterns in the Middle East: Lebanon and Irans 30 Year
Posted on Jun 19th, 2009
by 
Albert
Albert
As I am engaging now in the 5th year with Mideast (triggered by a professional project in UAE) and training my perception for development and systemic growth for large scale systems change) I found- once again- that the voice of the CEO of Center for Human Emergence in Mideast, Elza Maalouf is the most powerful and clarifying one. As Elza was born herself in Lebanon and grew up there.
Seen from Europe I appreciate her straight talk about this Mega Challenge for Integral Poltics in Mideast. its in fact an integral flagship project for me. And with the same intensity I am pursuing the opportunties for European Integration and growth -with developmental lenses -I applaude her master analysis for Mideast.
Nothing better in the planetary media spheres exists. This is what I am convinced about. In a very down to earth attitude. Thats what integral poltics for and in Mideast should be about:
I am mirroring directly her recent blog entry:
Emerging Patterns in the Middle East: Lebanon and Iran's Thirty Year Itch
Elza S. Maalouf
On March 14th, 2005, one Million Lebanese gathered in Martyr Square ,the symbol of Lebanon's 1943 Independence from France, protesting against the presence of Syrian forces in Lebanon. The Cedar Revolution ended the 30 year Syrian occupation of Lebanon. In 1975/76 Syrian Forces entered Lebanon as peacekeeping forces to protect the Christians, and to squelch the Palestinian dominance in Beirut. Two years later, the Syrian managed to reignite the sectarian civil war siding with the Palestinians when it served their regional interests and dominance and bombing them when they felt the PLO was out of control. The one Million Lebanese of March 14th Movement as it was called later, were not only rejecting the Syrian occupation of their country, but also a dire financial situation and one of the highest levels of corruption in the world orchestrated by Lebanese pro-Syrian power lords and their masters in Damascus.
In Iran, one Million Iranians gathered this week in Freedom Square in Tehran protesting the 'sham' elections and demanding their voices be heard. "Tehran Rising" is happening 30 years after Ayatollah Khumeini led the Islamic revolution along with young intelligent young Iranians, establishing the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979. Mir Ali Mousavi had a role to play in the revolution, and a bloody one I might add. His supporters, more so then Mousavi himself, are not fighting the principles of the revolution, they are fighting the collapsing economy in Iran, corruption and incompetency.
As I looked, through my developmental lenses, at both events and the cultures that produced them, the patterns of emergence that are unique to that part of the world in the 21st century were becoming clear. Beirut, Tehran, Baghdad, Kabul, and Cairo were some of the most progressive capital cities in the region at the dawn of the 2oth Century. Those cities were compared to Paris in culture, modernity and uniqueness. However, such notions of freedom and progress were almost exclusive to the capital cities, and rarely spread to the rest of the country. Inhabitants of these capitals had access to Western education and progressive schools of thought while their compatriots lagged behind in the darkness of tribal norms and feudal dominance. A split cultural personality we may say. That tension between modernity centered in the capitals, and a strong hold for tribalism, poverty and illiteracy in the rest of the country created a large gap that eventually ended up being the primary cause of each culture's downshift.
In Clare W. Graves' "Emergent Cyclic Double-Helix Model of Adult Biopsychosocial Systems" theory that forms the basis to Spiral Dynamics, the Double Helix gives us the key to evolution in cultures; as life conditions change, biopsychosocial systems within people and cultures have the potential to change to find solutions to their existential problems. Naturally, when people find solutions to their problems they create new ones, a process Graves elegantly called "the never ending quest."
Let's explore the particular case study of Lebanon and Iran.
Read more...
Seen from Europe I appreciate her straight talk about this Mega Challenge for Integral Poltics in Mideast. its in fact an integral flagship project for me. And with the same intensity I am pursuing the opportunties for European Integration and growth -with developmental lenses -I applaude her master analysis for Mideast.
Nothing better in the planetary media spheres exists. This is what I am convinced about. In a very down to earth attitude. Thats what integral poltics for and in Mideast should be about:
I am mirroring directly her recent blog entry:
Emerging Patterns in the Middle East: Lebanon and Iran's Thirty Year Itch
Elza S. Maalouf
On March 14th, 2005, one Million Lebanese gathered in Martyr Square ,the symbol of Lebanon's 1943 Independence from France, protesting against the presence of Syrian forces in Lebanon. The Cedar Revolution ended the 30 year Syrian occupation of Lebanon. In 1975/76 Syrian Forces entered Lebanon as peacekeeping forces to protect the Christians, and to squelch the Palestinian dominance in Beirut. Two years later, the Syrian managed to reignite the sectarian civil war siding with the Palestinians when it served their regional interests and dominance and bombing them when they felt the PLO was out of control. The one Million Lebanese of March 14th Movement as it was called later, were not only rejecting the Syrian occupation of their country, but also a dire financial situation and one of the highest levels of corruption in the world orchestrated by Lebanese pro-Syrian power lords and their masters in Damascus.
In Iran, one Million Iranians gathered this week in Freedom Square in Tehran protesting the 'sham' elections and demanding their voices be heard. "Tehran Rising" is happening 30 years after Ayatollah Khumeini led the Islamic revolution along with young intelligent young Iranians, establishing the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979. Mir Ali Mousavi had a role to play in the revolution, and a bloody one I might add. His supporters, more so then Mousavi himself, are not fighting the principles of the revolution, they are fighting the collapsing economy in Iran, corruption and incompetency.
As I looked, through my developmental lenses, at both events and the cultures that produced them, the patterns of emergence that are unique to that part of the world in the 21st century were becoming clear. Beirut, Tehran, Baghdad, Kabul, and Cairo were some of the most progressive capital cities in the region at the dawn of the 2oth Century. Those cities were compared to Paris in culture, modernity and uniqueness. However, such notions of freedom and progress were almost exclusive to the capital cities, and rarely spread to the rest of the country. Inhabitants of these capitals had access to Western education and progressive schools of thought while their compatriots lagged behind in the darkness of tribal norms and feudal dominance. A split cultural personality we may say. That tension between modernity centered in the capitals, and a strong hold for tribalism, poverty and illiteracy in the rest of the country created a large gap that eventually ended up being the primary cause of each culture's downshift.
In Clare W. Graves' "Emergent Cyclic Double-Helix Model of Adult Biopsychosocial Systems" theory that forms the basis to Spiral Dynamics, the Double Helix gives us the key to evolution in cultures; as life conditions change, biopsychosocial systems within people and cultures have the potential to change to find solutions to their existential problems. Naturally, when people find solutions to their problems they create new ones, a process Graves elegantly called "the never ending quest."
Let's explore the particular case study of Lebanon and Iran.
Read more...
Access: PublicTagged with: Elza Maalouf, Integral poltics in Mideast, Emergence, Spiral Dynamics Integral, Iran, Lebanon
Intergral politics in the Mideast seems to be a challenging but exciting evolution. In May of this year, a friend - who was born in Iran now having lived 2/3 of his life in the US - came to stay with me.
He shared much of the richness of his home country's culture, but is 100% resistant to US culture, including even non-home-country foods - despite his many years here. He also never refers to his home country as Iran, choosing Persia for each reference. He has many very strong feelings about both countries and their respective traditions, cultures and politics.
When I was in Dubai, though only for a day, as modern as it is, I could see much clear co-existence but little integration… To have the opportunity to be within the nuclei of the region - you are in a fascinating position!
~ soleil
Having some Friends from Iran too, oscillating betwen Europe and Dubai and elsewhere I know of course what a big challenge it is to to this work. Iran, lebanon, Israel/Palestinebroader Mideast, GCC region, Europe, Us….there are canyons of diversity and complexity..and I know one for sure:
Lots to sweat. Not only because its hot there:):)To a certain degree a frightening challenge , not for the fainthearted.
Hard work. For the next generation.
My guest's presence caused a stir within the small community, even with those I took for being non-prejudiced. And, he made it verbally clear to others he preferred his home country culture.
It was a real eye-opener for me, how deeply ingrained core systems can be! It was both difficult and fascinating.
I can only imagine what it is like for you to work within the core! Not for the fainthearted, indeed! But so essential and rewarding :)
Dennis Roberts is blogging from QAtar about his experiences:
Effective Teaching to counter misinformation
What I found as much challenging is the work to be done, here in Europe/Germany. (Others in US or North America) The simple ignorance about whats going on there.Even in politicians and lots of entrpreneurs. In tourists and traders. In the big media. IN NGO`s.
Lets take only the GCC region for the moment. its not even about diversification from oil. its about sustaianble growth in memetic patterns. The systemic interconnectedness between expats (80 -85 percent in UAE f.e.) and the locals. Differentiating expats as much as locals further into highly educated and less qualified ones.
Germany has a long strategic partnership with UAE. But is it more than trade, tourism, some cultural exchange and investing in this area? The same with World Economic Forum on Mideast. Making the region visible more and more.
This year the convening point was in Jordan, Dead Sea.What is really done on the ground? with what participation of the local population in the respective cultures?
What kind of global constellation can support a purposefull process of transformation best? There is an article of Marylin Hamilton about Meshworks. I guess this nails down a lots. You may remember Marylin as author of INTEGRAL CITY.
Check it out.
The Art and Science of Meshworking
THE ROOT of the mis-understanding of le soleil's “Persian” friend, lies within Spain's and subsequently Europe's and ultimately the West's refusal to accept or truly understand the role of the Moors in bridging the chasm twixt Eastern and Western cultures. Had the Moors NOT introduced science, mathematics and a truly pragmatic perspective of ”what IS important in life”, by way of their own version of mutually beneficial meshworking, I would suspect that Europe would still be developing in a predominately Eastern developed world by reason of the fact that it would have been an Eastern cultural mind-set that would have been introduced to the then 60 million indigenous population of North America, NOT as it in fact happened.
I have long since attributed Grave's ”change of psychographic mind-set”, following his WWII experiences, to his own perspective and understanding of THIS !
Right and NOW its not dreaming about past Arabian Renaissance but CREATING new constellations. Besides discussion and design processes LOTs of leg work is to do as I experienced in last years. Partially unpaid volunteering leg work, sweating and building bridges in thousands of hours.
Not even understod by lots of Peers, friends and colleagues. A constant uphill battle with small support.
So this creation process isnt smart drawing maps alone. Its working in the invisible. Beyond the media radars. And -honestly- exhausting, frustrating and fucking demanding. At least every second day.):)
Michael, when I mention it was both fascinating and difficult, what was difficult is my friend made a conscious effort to be difficult with the locals. At first, they were open-minded and did not view him as a “representative” of his culture. Rather, they saw him as I did - an individual and good man.
But he attacked, very openly, the US culture - comparing it to his “superior” culture (his words). This triggered reinforcement of (latent?) prejudices within the locals…and surprised me, as he and I discuss the beautiful things of his culture, including the maths, sciences, poetry…
However, I agree with Albert about “CREATING new contellations.” While “past Arabian Renaissance” was a beautiful moment in history, we can validate its deep value - and yet also let go to create “new constellations.”?
This is something that I find intriguing about Meshworks.
I enjoy this discussion :)
Albert, I remember Marilyn Hamilton and Integral City :) which I liked a lot. I find this essential:
“What is really done on the ground? with what participation of the local population in the respective cultures?” / “What kind of global constellation can support a purposefull process of transformation best?”
I am off to revisit the material with fresh eyes :)