This article is a treatise on the Arab revolution from
the aspect of globalization as an inconsistent process. It postulates
that the inconsistent character of current globalization has exacerbated
the conditions of the occurrence of the Arab spring, while explaining
why the Middle East in general has not been able to successfully
integrate into it, within a core-periphery paradigm. The methodology
referred to involves the projection on the level of real politics, of
both macro and micro levels analysis of such a paradigm. In this sense,
on the level of macro economics, US power politics, in its privileged
relationship with the Arab authoritarian states, implies a geopolitical
and geo-economic dominance supporting the status quo resulting from its
global core situation. From the level of micro economic analysis, on the
other hand, the core-periphery paradigm has also remained within the
domestic scale of those Arab states, given their unequal distribution of
resources and leaving behind the alienated populations from having any
input into domestic governance. The analyses of Islamic responses to
globalization in the Middle East, promises therefore a long-term
perspective to explain the Arab revolution, beyond the short term and
spontaneous character, as attributed to it. Such long-term perspective
also explains the importance of this article. On the other hand, as
regards Islamic identity affirmation in the light of globalization, as
contrary to the preceding pejorative and reactive Islamic stance in
relation to those unequal global patterns, the Arab revolution reveals
rather an interactive, positive response to them, which underlines again
the relevance of this article. Furthermore, as regards Islam and
globalization, it is indicated that it is the capacity of Islam's
selective accommodation of globalization, which has made possible the
Arab revolution. Consequently, the article defends that such original
response, which made the Arab revolution possible, has evolved within a
doctrinal effort for a new Islamic reinterpretation which would be
progressive and democratic, as suits the universal values already found
in Islam.