أحمد المقدم
With the advent of the globally conceptualized as the Arab Spring, promises were made for social justice, guaranteed freedom of opinion and speech, and more decent standards of living. Similar promises were given if we traveled back in the early and mid twentieth century in the rapid-fire independences of African and Asian countries that per se composed the politically acknowledged as third world. Amid the euphoria of the incidents and the alleged calls for the individual rights, some intrusive regimes, undercovered in the name of patriotism, came to the fore and culminated in a plot twist. Henceforth, the term of “home” for many toiling folks skeptical and the way to social justice seemed like fantasy.
Nonetheless, the recurring tales of success of the expats in Europe and later in the Gulf were a motif to shake their convictions of the credibility of their homelands. Many dreamt of uprooting their origins while many others waited for drastic changes in their countries.
The Middle East witnessed a new crusade with the American assault on Iraq in 2003 which left behind a whole country in ashes. Moreover, the second decade of the third millennium witnessed sweeping waves of political changes in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Yemen and Sudan as many dictatorships were toppled down and crushing economical crises came collateral. The values of belonging went at stake. Resorting to the International Monetary Fund and the European Union acted as a middle ground for those countries to manage to dealing with upcoming challenges.
When pondering about most of the third-world nations, most notably Arabs, clinging to identity is such a key feature. Nonetheless, many are driven by xenophobia due stereotypes about the Other, let alone the robust commitment to traditions and more significantly religious codes. Henceforth, the unshaken belief in home has always been a clear-cut reality all the way. The torturous fact is the economic obligations which intercept getting a decent life which have come collateral to malfunctioning matrix of domination in the ruling regimes.
The high rhythm of evolution of modern era thanks to modern technology and globalisation has raised the potentials to trespass the geographical and demographical borders of homeland for many who seek to improve their standards of living. Amr Ahmed, a PhD holder from Michegen State University and a staff member of teaching at Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan, redefines the concept of “home”: ” Home” becomes a fluid and multilayered concept, blending physical spaces, memories and emotional ties. For a third-world expatriate it can signify nostalgia for the homeland, where the culture, language, and traditions are deeply rooted. It may also include the adopted country, which provides opportunities but might feel unfamiliar or alienating at times. Often [it] exists in the connections maintained with family, friends, and community, transcending physical borders. “
As an expat academic, Ahmed’s definitions implies the dichotomy between domisticity and alienation one might find at home. Even though it remains carved into the mind a set of unforgettable memories, and despite the strong family ties, it is potential that one can leave all that behind and walk away with their alleged home inside their heart.
Sweepting waves of travelers and immigrants to the Gulf, the West and the Far East have been the fad of the last decade. They left behind their memories and families holding onto the motto of a better life. “We travel, or aspire to travel abroad”, Temur Achillov, an Uzbak local working in international trade, ” for a promising life for ourselves or our left-behind families. We leave bearing our home in our hearts. It is such a challenging experience to cling to our identity and stay committed to our religious values. “
While domisticity remains innate for the reasons afore mentioned of familial ties and strong sense of commitment to identity and religion, alienation emerges as an inevitable consequence of economical stagnation and social fragility.
For the intelligentsia who suffer lack of opportunities, marginalization, and absence of social justice, they feel alienated. Looking at themselves as outsiders within, they miss the sense of belonging. Egypt’s “cultural alienations” study, conducted in 2020 , demonstrates that 67% of the participants felt culturally alienated. On a continental level, the Unesco’s “cultural development in Africa” report in the same year indicates that 40% of Africa’s population experiece loss of cultural identity.
Politically, according to WHO (2020), 22.1% of Africa’s population suffered from psychological disorders. Furthermore, a study of “political alienation in Egypt” found that 75% of the participants had political alienation while in Brazil (2022) it reached up to 61.1%.
Here is a list of the top eight countries concerning the feeling of alienation since 2020
Egypt
Brazil
Nigeria
India
South Africa
Turkey
Mexico
Iran
The lack of self esteem and strenuous efforts exterted for not forsaking the values and the sense of homage are common symptoms of alienation. It is such a phenomenon that requires a nuanced approach.
