Ehsan Masood urges Arab liberals to help to build Islamic science policy (Nature 488, 131; 2012). Regrettably, academics who participated in the Arab Spring are still constrained by opposing military, religious or even tribal forces.
There are other ways to strengthen scientific progress. These would include increasing national investment in local human resources and boosting support from international stakeholders for developing science and technology.
The Middle East and North Africa must also discard their long history of 'self-loathing', which manifests as deference to Western expertise, undervaluation of distinguished expatriates and resistance to their advice. On my travels around the region, I hear from internationally renowned Arab experts who have tried to offer assistance to local establishments, only to be rebuffed or treated as second class.
The region must convince scientists in the diaspora that it is serious about promoting its own science and education. Most important, it must embrace diversity and freedom of thought.
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al'Absi, M. Arab science must help itself. Nature 489, 367 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/489367b
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/489367b