To take its place in the 21st century, Egypt needs to re-imagine itself, writes Nader Fergany The link between knowledge and human development is organic. Knowledge is the criterion for human progress in the present phase of the march of humanity. It is also the means to attain the highest human ideals of freedom, justice and human dignity. Building a knowledge society represents reclaiming one of the epic achievements of Arab history. The zenith of the Arab-Muslim civilisation produced, in its historical context, a knowledge society. At present, however, societal impediments stand in the way of knowledge acquisition. The absence of institutional support for research and development (R&D), and the lack of an environment favourable to R&D, is a fundamental shortfall. However, political impediments to knowledge acquisition appear to be even more strident than those of socio-economic disadvantage. Poverty of knowledge at present At the start of the 21st century, the dissemination and production of knowledge is quite poor and its utilisation in the service of human development is weak, despite the presence of significant human capital. Human capital innovates, at present, at a limited rate, and a hostile societal environment for R&D has led to a brain drain. Under different conditions, human capital can become the foundation of a knowledge renaissance. Nevertheless, the prerequisite of involving highly qualified migrants effectively is a serious project for human development that tempts expatriates to return, temporarily or permanently, to share in it. A number of factors can be advanced to explain the poverty of knowledge production. In societal context, the restriction of freedom stands supreme. Relevant intermediate factors include relative lack of investment in human capital through education -- compared to the East Asian tigers, for example. Another is the relatively low level of allocation of human capital to R&D in comparison to other regions in the world. Role of governance, national, regional and global While socio-economic features impede knowledge acquisition, the political layer of the societal context is probably the most binding constraint. This political layer consists of national, regional and global dimensions. It is not a coincidence that the "strategic vision for the establishment of a knowledge-based society" outlined by the second Arab Human Development Report is organised around five main pillars, the first of which is: "Total respect for the key freedoms of opinion, expression, and association, and guaranteeing these through good governance", which addresses the national dimension of governance. Indeed, it specifies the necessary initial condition not only for building a knowledge society but also for serious governance reform. The essential reason for failure thus far is to be found in national governance regimes that are neither representative of nor accountable to the people at large, and in which power (political authority/wealth) is concentrated in the hands of a few. In such a governance regime, decision-making is geared to serve the interests of the dominant few while the vast majority is marginalised and recedes into poverty (the antithesis of freedom). As far as the regional dimension is concerned, the consensus is that present regional cooperation arrangements have failed to capitalise on the immense potential of Arab integration by virtue of a common culture, history and language, not to mention addressing regional and global challenges that would have been better managed had Arab countries been united. Thus, the potential for Arab cooperation in education, in mass media, in translation from and into Arabic, in R&D, especially in areas in which Arab countries have a distinct advantage or interest, has gone mostly untapped. Elements of the global governance regime are also recognised to have impeded knowledge acquisition. Notable among these is the intellectual property rights regime under which knowledge has been essentially transformed from a public good to a heavily guarded private good to protect the profits of the few knowledge producers in developed countries even at the expense of human welfare in less developed countries. The cases of HIV/AIDS treatments, genetically modified seeds, and traditional medicinal knowledge appropriated by multinationals, embedded in pharmaceutical products and protected by patents are only a few cogent examples. The negative impact of bad governance on the global level on the restriction of freedom in Arab countries is only too clear. Indeed, the contradiction between freedom in Arab countries and the interests of dominant powers in the global arena have historical roots. Strategic vision for a knowledge-based society The Arab Human Development Report vision is organised around five main pillars: First, complete respect for the key freedoms of opinion, expression, and association, and guaranteeing these through good governance. Second, ensuring high-quality education for all, with special attention given to the two ends of the educational spectrum, early childhood education and higher education, and to life-long continuing education. Third, the institution of research and technological development in all societal activities with a full accession to the information age. Fourth, rapid transition to a knowledge mode of production across socio- economic structures. Fifth, establishing a general knowledge model that is authentic, open, enlightened and based on a return to true religion, salvaged from exploitation for tendentious purposes, and the encouragement and valuing of independent religious scholarship; promotion of the Arabic language; appeal to and use of the highlights of the heritage of Arab knowledge; enrichment of, support for, and celebration of cultural diversity within the nation; and opening up to other human cultures. Clearly, the only impediments to knowledge are man-made structures in society, the economy, and above all in politics. It is now incumbent to reset these structures so that the nation may assume the place it rightfully deserves in the knowledge millennium. Broad reform is needed The crisis of development has become so huge, complex and multi-dimensional that any true reform of any of the aspects needed to build a human renaissance in the region needs be extended to all other aspects of society to take effect. As is clear from the proposed strategic vision for the establishment of a knowledge society -- a topic that might seem to be free of any political perspective -- required societal reform extends to the dominant culture, albeit on its margins and not in its essence, as well as to current social and economic structures, and, before all else, to the political context at the national, regional and global levels. In other words, partial reform is no longer enough, however many fields it may cover. Indeed, it may no longer be possible anyway given the need for an enabling societal environment for effective partial reform. It follows that delay or prevarication over comprehensive societal reform out of regard for existing interests of whatever kind can no longer be tolerated, the alternative bringing with it consequences that would be totally catastrophic. It has also become clear that it is the political shackles on human development that are the most virulent and long-lasting factor in terms of delaying opportunities for a renaissance. This calls for a radical reform of the power structure. While it is possible that, if left to follow their course, events might lead to a violent social conflict ending in a modification of the power structure, the cost to society would be too enormous for any patriot solicitous of the wellbeing of the nation as a whole to tolerate or accept. This being so, the sole alternative capable of saving us from the unimaginable disasters that will inevitably come about if current trends continue is the initiation of an historic process of negotiation among the vital forces of society aimed at achieving a radical modification of the power structure and its exercise. Such a modification should lead to good governance, protect freedom, and guarantee its maintenance and steady expansion. Similarly, there is no alternative to reform from within founded on balanced self-criticism and an effective and authentic effort at innovation on the part of society at large in which all the vital societal forces participate. This should create a societal transition that is both universally acceptable and sustainable. In contrast, reform imposed from outside cannot possibly serve the interests of any but those who impose it. It cannot serve the interests of the Arabs, and will unavoidably result in a legitimate, and indeed to some, sacred, resistance. This said there is no civilised alternative for a renaissance but to open up to the world and human culture at large. The Arabs have made a substantial contribution to the latter and must now regain the honour of effective participation in it. Obscurantism and isolationism can bequeath only stagnation and impotence. At the same time, the global system is itself indisputably in need of reform and such reform, when carried out, will be reflected positively in improved opportunities for renaissance in the region, which has suffered too much from the injustice of the current oppressive global system. Opportunity ahead In the final analysis, there is a real opportunity to build a human renaissance based on knowledge acquisition and, to the extent possible, help reform the global context. This opportunity, however, is dependent on the strengthening of Arab cooperation, whose weakness in the fields of knowledge acquisition specifically and of human development generally risks irrevocable loss of an historic opportunity. Knowledge : All symbolic structures internalised by the human being or society in a specific historical and referential context that directs individual and collective behaviour in all fields of human activity Not limited to the fruits of the exact sciences but extends to social sciences and the humanities as well as literary and artistic expression. Knowledge society : A society in which knowledge is the organizing principle for all human existence. A society built on the dissemination and production of knowledge and utilising it effectively
