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Arab Culture/Islamic studies

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Expert: - 9/18/2010


Question
Why is authoritarianism so common in Islamic states

Answer
Jennifer, this is a hard question to answer. Having grown up in the middle east and now living in the US I have seen Arab society and culture evolve over my 50 years of living. Arab society respects and admires strong leadership. Authoritarianism is often viewed as strong leadership. The Bedouin society is seen by all "Arabs" as being the truest form of Arab society and culture. Bedouins are a partrical society with strong male leadership. I am sure this is at the heart of why authoritarianism is so strong within Arab and Islamic society. If you read the Koran (the Islamic Bible) you will see that the Prophet Mohammed, was a strong and by some respects viewed as authoritarian, however, he was very concerned with widows and orphans (having been an orphan himself and watched his widow mother struggle). I hope this helps.

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David Rababy

Expertise

Questions regarding political, military and cultural issues in the Middle East

Experience

•27+ years of experience in intelligence analysis •Coordinated the management, analysis, processing, and dissemination of strategic, operational and tactical intelligence •Conducted research & analysis of counterterrorism, and foreign military forces, operations, capabilities and trends in support of threat production •Analyzed information to assess developments, trends, and threat implications within geographical and functional areas •Compiled, collated, analyzed, produced and evaluated all-source intelligence •Subject Matter Expert on Middle East affairs (native of Lebanon)

Organizations
Disabled American Veterans (DAV) National Veteran-Owned Business Association Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) The American Legion The Marine Corps League The Association of Service Disabled Veterans (ASDV) Fredericksburg Small Business Association (FSBA)

Publications
Rababy, D.A., Marine Corps Intelligence, Officer Training of the Future, U.S. Army Military Intelligence magazine, May 1995 Rababy, D.A., Intelligence Support During a Humanitarian Mission, Marine Corps Gazette, February 1995 Rababy, D.A., Intelligence Support in Operations Other Than War, Small Wars Journal, October, 2005 Rababy, D.A., Cultural Intelligence Training for Military Operations, Ongoing

Education/Credentials
American Military University, Master of Arts, Political Science University of Michigan-Flint, Bachelor of Arts, History Armed Forces Staff College (JPME II) Intelligence Collection Managers Course USMC Command & Staff College Anti-terrorism Instructor Course Instructor and Curriculum Developers Course

Awards and Honors
Bronze Star Medal Joint Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal (Third Award) Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (Third Award) Combat Action Ribbon (Second Award) Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Southwest Asia Service Medal Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait and Saudi Arabia) Navy and Marine Corps Intelligence Instructor of the Year (1996)

Past/Present Clients
Jane's Information Group Klein Associates (ARA) Robotic Research

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