IS THE ARAB WORLD BACKWARD? - Who Decides What Progress Looks Like?

The Arab world has often been portrayed by Europe as a region “behind” — too conservative, too religious, too politically immature. But this view is built on a false assumption: that progress has a single shape, and that modernity must mirror the West.

In this video, we question that myth. From Ibn Khaldun’s cycles of civilization to Edward Said’s critique of Orientalism, we trace how Arab societies evolve according to their own rhythms, histories, and values. We explore colonial legacies, cultural conservatism, and the Arab world’s right to define its pace of modernity without external judgment.

Progress, after all, is not a race — it’s a journey, and every civilization walks it differently.