The Arab mind: A need for understanding - John Laffin

The power of the Arab nation was brought home to the Western world by the oil crisis in 1973, but a close, less Western-oriented study of events in the Middle East since the Second World War would have revealed how little the West understood these ancient peoples, numbering 132 million and inhabiting eighteen states stretching from Morocco to Abu Dhabi on the Persian Gulf. John Laffin has, over the years, been in contact with Arabs from every walk of life; he has interviewed military and political leaders, including the late President Nasser, consulted authorities and scholars of Arab affairs and Island, and, in The Arab Mind, has produced a lucid and objective appraisal of the politics and attitudes of these diverse peoples and the deep-seated religious, linguistic and psychological influences that regulate the individual Arab's thoughts, deeds and speech.

For the Arab Nations, an understanding of themselves is essential for development and survival; for the West, the Arabs' innate differences in outlook, attitude of mind and the difficulties of communication have created confusion and antipathy. In today's explosive situation, when the slightest misunderstanding can lead to tragedy and disaster in the Middle East, acts of terrorism and assassination, even full-scale war involving the Great Powers, the need for understanding has never been greater.

John Laffin's work in military and political studies of the Middle East has attracted much attention, not only in Western countries but in the Middle East itself. His Fedayeen, published by Cassell in 1973, was acknowledged by Israeli and Arab alike as a valuable contribution to the understanding of a twentieth century dilemma.