Author: Luca Segantini

I moved to Brussels from my native Milan in 2000. Best decision in my life. 4 children and a lovely wife, Valeria. More on us on www.segantini.net. I worked for 15 year for two global medical associations, the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) and the European Society for Organ Transplantation (ESOT). Now I consult for a variety of organisations, working as a digital nomad.

The tragedy of the Arabs

A civilisation that used to lead the world is in ruins—and only the locals can rebuild it

From The Economist: http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21606284-civilisation-used-lead-world-ruinsand-only-locals-can-rebuild-it

A THOUSAND years ago, the great cities of Baghdad, Damascus and Cairo took turns to race ahead of the Western world. Islam and innovation were twins. The various Arab caliphates were dynamic superpowers—beacons of learning, tolerance and trade. Yet today the Arabs are in a wretched state. Even as Asia, Latin America and Africa advance, the Middle East is held back by despotism and convulsed by war.

Hopes soared three years ago, when a wave of unrest across the region led to the overthrow of four dictators—in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Yemen—and to a clamour for change elsewhere, notably in Syria. But the Arab spring’s fruit has rotted into renewed autocracy and war. Both engender misery and fanaticism that today threaten the wider world.

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