The Arab World

Tradition

The Arab World has a very old and rich cultural tradition. It must be emphasized that there is no “one” Arab culture or society. The Arab world is full of rich and diverse communities, groups and cultures.

Modernity

While often appearing very “traditional”, some Arab cities display stunningly modern architecture.

Political Importance

The Arab Spring has again reminded us of the political importance of the Arab World. While the revolt was completely unpredictable, the socio-economic transformation of the Arab World has given rise to new social forces that the old regimes proved unable to suppress.

Liturgical Language

In addition to the millions of native speakers, many more millions know Arabic as a foreign language, since as the language of the Qu’ran, it is understood by Muslims throughout the world. For this reason, the Arabic language also plays an important role in Indonesia— the country with the largest Islamic population in the world.