Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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The Arab world
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22 countries make the Arab world. 350 million people
live in this area. Arabic is the dominant language.
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The Arab world
The Arab ―homeland‖ stretches some 5,000 miles from the Atlantic coast
of northern Africa in the west to the Arabian Sea in the east, and from the
Mediterranean Sea in the north to Central Africa in the south.
•It covers an area of 5.25 million square miles.
With 72% of its territory in Africa and 28% in Asia, the Arab world
straddles 2 continents, a position that makes it one of the world‘s most
strategic regions.
•Long coastlines give it access to vital waterways: the Atlantic Ocean, the
Mediterranean Sea, the Arabian Gulf, the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the
Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.
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Which countries have the largest Muslim populations?
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Largest Muslim populations
Country Muslims
1. Indonesia 203 million
2. Pakistan 174 million
3. India 161 million
4. Bangladesh 145 million
5. Egypt 79 million
6. Nigeria 78 million
7. Iran 74 million
8. Turkey 74 million
9. Algeria 34 million
10. Morocco 32 milllion
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Why is the Arab world strategically so important?
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• 22 countries
• 350 million people
• Close to 60% of earth´s oil
reserves are or near the
Arabian Peninsula
• Saudi Arabia possesses the
world´s largest reserves of oil
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What is an Arab?
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What is an Arab?
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Stereotypes
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What are the stereotypes of Arabs?
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The 3 B´s
1. Billionaires
2. Belly dancers
3. Bombers
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An old Arab man has been living in Chicago for than 40 years. He would
very much like to plant potatoes in his garden, but he is alone, old and
weak. His son studies in Paris. He writes an email to his son and explains
th problem to him.
„Dear father, please do not touch the garten. I have hidden `the object´
there. I love you, too. Ahmed.― 15
At 4 o´clock in the morning the US army, the Marines, the FBI, the CIA and
the Rangers came to the oldman´s house. They searched everywhere,
took the garten apart, scanned every millimeter, but found nothing. They
went away disappointed.
On the following day the old man received another email again from his
son:
„Dear father, the garten is certainly completely dug over and you can plant
the potatoes.
That is all I could do for you at the moment.
Your Ahmed.―
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Stereotypes
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A Saudi Arabian student sends an e-mail to his father:
“Dear Dad,Berlin is great, people are friendly and they treat
me very well.
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The next day, Nasser received his father´s response:
I love you,
Your Father.”
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How Germans see Arabs
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How Arabs see Germans
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• All Arabs are Muslims, and all Muslims are Arabs.
- Arabs are religiously diverse group – considerable
numbers of Arab Christians in, e.g. Egypt. Arabs
make 15-18% of the Muslim world
• The Arab world is backwards and uncivilized.
- It represents a highly developed culture and
civilization where modern cities mingle with ancient
ones.
• The Arab world is one big desert.
- Truly geographically complex and diverse
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Stereotypes of Arab males
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Stereotypes of Arab women
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Stereotypes of Arab women
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What do you know about Arab politics?
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• Politically diverse forms of government:
- Parliamentary Republics, e.g. Tunisia.
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Arab disunity
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Arab dress: Men
Arab dress for men ranges from the traditional flowing robes to
blue jeans, T-shirts and western business suits. The robes
allow for maximum circulation of air around the body to help
keep it cool, and the head dress provides protection from the
sun.
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Arab dress: Women
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Women in Arab societies
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Women in Arab societies
• Do not shake hands with an Arab woman unless she offers her
hand first, or if you are a woman. Do not flirt, hit-on, touch, hug or
talk in private with women. IT COULD ENDANGER THEIR
SAFETY!
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Family
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Family
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Youth explosion in the Arab world
The impact of this increase could be positive and/or negative and will
depend upon how each country addresses the issue.
• Positive: Increase labor pool, new talent and leadership potential.
• Negative: If economy cannot support (jobs, education, etc.)
discontent and social unrest are likely.
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Arab vs. Western perspective
Describe the German & the Arab attitudes towards the following
notions:
Family
Friends
Honour
Shame
Time
Religion
Society
Government
Age
Wealth
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Arab vs. Western perspective
Arab Western
Family Center of everything: Father has Important but not as
first & last word. central to individual.
Friends Periphery, but courteous to all. Core to some, important
to most.
Honour Very important among Arabs. It Typically not as
will be protected and defended at important.
all costs.
Shame (Especially against family) Typically not as
avoided at all costs, insults and important.
criticism taken very seriously.
Time Less rigid. Approach to time is Very structured,
much more relaxed and slower deadlines must be met.
than that in western cultures.
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Arab vs. Western perspective
Arab Western
Religion Central to all things. Varies by individual, very
personal, not discussed
in polite conversation.
Society Family/tribe is most Individual rights.
important.
Government Most governments are Purpose is to protect
secular, but still rights and improve
emphasize religion. standard of living.
Age Age and wisdom Youth & beauty praised.
honoured.
Wealth Honoured. Honoured.
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Arab worldview
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Arab worldview
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Arab customs
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Arab customs
Family:
• Family is the center of honour, loyalty, and reputation for
Arabs.
• Males are always the head of the Arab family.
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Arab customs
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Arabic calendar/holidays
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Arabic calendar/holidays
2011 Festival
November 26 Islamic New Year
February 15 Prophet Mohammed´s Birthday
August 1 Ramadan
August 27 Laylat Al Qadr
August 30 Eid al Fitr
November 4-7 Hajj Days
November 6 Eid al-Adha
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Arabic calendar/holidays
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Eating etiquette
• Arabs are restricted by Islamic conventions from eating pork, and most
carnivorous animals. Alcohol is forbidden.
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Eating etiquette
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Eating etiquette
• When served a beverage, accept with the RIGHT HAND ONLY! When
eating, drinking, offering, or passing use right hand only!
• When eating with Arabs, especially when taking food from communal
dishes, the left hand must never be used, it is considered unclean.
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Hygiene
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Body language & Greetings
• Shake Hands with right hand only and at the beginning and
end of any visit. Shake hands longer but less firmly than in the
West.
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Body language & Greetings
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Body language & Greeetings
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Suggestions for successful meetings
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Suggestions for successful meetings
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Suggestions for successful meetings
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Suggestions for successful meetings
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Suggestions for successful meetings
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Successful negotiation suggestions
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Successful negotiation suggestions
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Successful negotiation suggestions
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Successful negotiation suggestions
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Negotiations: comparison of negotiating
styles
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Islam
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Islam
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Islam
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Muslims
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Muslims
The US, with 5-6 million Muslims, has the 20th largest
Muslim population.
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Common Islamic terms
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Islam´s five pillars of faith
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Islam´s five pillars of faith
SALEH – Prayer
Saleh is the name for the obligatory prayers that are performed
five times a day, and are a direct link between the worshipper
and God.
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Islam´s five pillars of faith
ZAKAH – Alms
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Islam´s five pillars of faith
SAWM – Fasting
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Islam´s five pillars of faith
HAJJ – Pilgrimage
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Shahada – declaration of faith
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Salet - Prayer
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Friday Prayer
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Friday Prayer
Be respectful.
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Respect for prayer
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Zakat - Alms
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Sawm - Fasting
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Sawm - Fasting
•Fasting Guidelines
During daylight hours NO
food
drink
sexual intercourse
smoking
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Hajj - Pilgrimage
The Fifth and Final Pillar is the Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca
required of every Muslim (if feasible) at least once in his or her
life time. The Hajj takes place annually during the first 10 days
of the Dhu al-Hijja, the twelfth month of the Islamic year.
Mecca is located in Saudi Arabia.
•During the Hajj, pilgrims must be in a state of ihram
(consecration or blessing). Men typically wear two pieces of
white unstitched cloth – covering the waist and legs, the other
around the shoulders covering the upper body.
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Hajj - Pilgrimage
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Visiting a mosque
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Visiting a mosque
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The Qur´an
Means ―Recitation‖
Honorable to memorize
Allah‘s Infallible word
•114 chapters arranged by length
longest to shortest
the size of the Gospels
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The Qur´an
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The Qur´an
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Mosque layout
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Shi´a
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Shi´a
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Sharia – Islamic law
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Common spelling/terminology mistakes
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Arab contribution to civilization
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Arab contribution to civilization
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Arab contribution to civilization
Mathematics
Concept of zero
Decimal system
Invented and developed algebra
• Astronomy
• Invented ―astrolabe‖ – a device used to chart
precise timing of sunrise and sunset.
• Architecture
• Numerous grand mosques and mausoleums.
•
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Arab contribution to civilization
•Engineering
Invented water wheel
Irrigation system
Cisterns
• Music
• Harp (mudharmonika), lyre (die Leier), zither (die
Zither), drum, tambourine were all developed in early
Arab civilization.
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Arab children
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Arab children
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Significance of colour green in Islam
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Significance of colour green in Islam
Black, red, and white are also very important and common
colors. Traditionally these three colors, along with green, are
preferred.
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Marriage in Arab society
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The Arab league
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The Arab league
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The Arabic language
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The Arabic language
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The Arabic language
Arabic script reads from right to left and its alphabet contains
28 characters.
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A Sample of Arabic words used in English:
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A Sample of Arabic words used in English:
Rice = Rozz
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A Sample of Arabic words used in English:
Soap= Saboon
Today Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and China are the main non-Arab states
using the Arabic alphabet to write one or more official national languages, including
Persian,
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Dari, Pashto, Urdu, Kashmiri, Sindhi, and Uyghur
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The Arabic language
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The Arabic language
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Arabic Calligraphy
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Arabic Calligraphy
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International Marketing
Marketing mistakes
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Marketing mistakes
Cone-demned ... 'spinning whirl' ice creams look similar to the
world Allah written in Arabic script
Ice creams are being withdrawn from Burger King — because a
design on the lid looks like the word Allah.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2005430136,,00.html
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Commercializing Islam
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Arab concept of authority
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Holy sites in Islam
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Is there a Judeo-Christian-Islamic tradition?
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Critical incident: What do you think the
problem is?
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This is a classic example of the difference between what Hall calls
polychronic and monochronic cultures. In polychronic cultures it
is acceptable to do several things at the same time and the
approach to deadlines is flexible. In monochronic cultures one thing
is done at a time with great stress being laid on deadlines and
schedules.
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Critical incident: What do you think the
problem is?
„Having pressed their host to fix a time, they arrive half an hour late
and are shown into the guest room. After a decent interval, they ask
after the host´s wife, who has yet to appear, and are told that she´s
busy in the kitchen. At one point their host´s little son wanders in,
and the couple remark on his good looks.
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Just before the meal is served, the guests ask to be shown to
the toilet so they may wash their hands. The main course is
served in and eaten from a large platter, and the couple
choose morsels of food from wherever they can reach, trying
to keep up polite conversation throughout the meal
Soon after the tea and cookies, they take their leave.´
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Storti explains what they did wrong:
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One should be careful about asking after a Moslem man’s wife; she
frequently does not eat with foreign guests, even female spouses
are present, nor would she necessarily even be introduced. In any
case, she belongs in the kitchen guaranteeing the meal is as good as
she can produce, thereby showing respect for her guests and
bringing honour on her and her husband´ house. Nor should one
praise the intelligence and good looks of small children, for this will
alert evil spirits to the presence of a prized object in the home, and
they may come and cause harm. It was not appropriate to ask for
the toilet either, for a decorative basin would have been offered for
the washing of hands (and the nicer it is the more honor it conveys
upon the family).
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Nor should one talk during the meal; it interferes with the enjoyment
of the food to have to keep up a conversation and may even be
interpreted as a slight against the cooking. And one should only take
the food from the part of the platter directly in front, not from any
where within reach. Not only is it rude to reach, but doing so
deprives the host of one of his chief duties and pleasures: finding
the best pieces of chicken and lamb and ostentatiously (prahlend)
placing them before the guest.´
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