Does this region suffer from the foreigner complex?

Rym Ghazal asks if the Arab world suffer from "foreigner complex", believing people, products and ideas from overseas are better.

Do Arabs, such as these Egyptian shoppers, value foreign goods and ideas higher than homegrown ones? Mohamed Abd El Ghany / Reuters

Trust your local products. This was one of the recurring themes in TV commercials aired during Ramadan, when besides the lavish series and soap operas, a lot of airtime and money is spent every year on commercials that have been specially commissioned for this time of year.

In some ways, these ads trigger debate and capture the pulse of public opinion.

For instance, in this push to take pride in local products, one Egyptian ad went as far as criticising those suffering from “uqdet el khawaja” (the foreigner complex), referring to how Arabs prefer to work with and buy from foreigners than from their own people.

There are various theories exploring this issue, from how it may be one of the side effects of living under some form of domination or humiliation to Arabs internalising Orientalist stereotypes about themselves.

There are degrees of truth to the prevalence of this among Arabs. It is common in this part of the world to hear those hiring or buying asking about the origin of the person or product, and making a decision based on that, rather than a person’s skills or a product’s quality. And it is not limited to this region. Look at what is regularly making headlines in the United States, where race and nationality shouldn’t play a role, but still do.

One particular statement that stayed with me was made by a Chinese doctor I know, who reacted when someone made a comment about Chinese products within his earshot.

“You know, just because someone says it is made in China, doesn’t mean it is low quality. We have levels of quality like everywhere else in the world. All depends on what you are willing to pay for,” he said. “You can hire a high-end company, or you can hire a low-end company, it is your choice.”

It is important to remember these differences and not to make generalisations.

Going back to the Arab issue, there are many qualified Arab nationals who studied at the best schools and universities and worked abroad and have come back to their home countries to work, give back and pass on their skills and expertise to others. But some say they are still discriminated against and are not trusted to do the big jobs as someone from the western world is.

Add to this complex mix the turmoil and upheaval of this region. The issue is further complicated with the multiple nationalities Arabs hold or are trying to obtain to avoid being discriminated against.

Let me give you the example of an Australian Arab friend who recently moved to the UAE.

His background is Iraqi and told me some Arabs were “offended” when he told them he doesn’t speak Arabic because he was born and raised in Australia.

“Some accused me of being a self-hating Arab when I say I am Australian as I have never travelled to Iraq and don’t feel a connection to it,” he said.

“I don’t deny I have these roots, but I just don’t feel they should define me.”

He said he was worried that he will be stereotyped as a “typical Iraqi” and not find a good job here. But what is a typical Iraqi and why should there be a typical anything?

Sure there are cultural differences, dialects and traditions that define different nations and their citizens, but they shouldn’t be pigeonholed, especially in today’s globally influenced and connected world.

They say there is a grain of truth to the stereotypes, but let us remember that these are grains, not the whole picture.

One of the initiatives we really need is an open and truthful dialogue between Arabs, in which we face the stereotypes and stigmas we hold against each other and break them down and overcome them.

By working together to bring about changes in ourselves, we build understanding and trust not just in the products such as mentioned in those commercials, but in each other.

On Twitter: @Arabianmau