Social backwardness is an introduction to the psychology of the oppressed person

Author's name: Dr. Mustafa Hijazi Publisher: The Arab Cultural Center Year of publication: 2001 Brief about the book: Ignoring that backwardness at the human level is a distinctive mode of existence, with its psychological, mental, and relational dynamics, has placed students of underdevelopment, development scientists, and behind them the political leaders who decide social change operations, in a dilemma that has led to wasting much effort, time, and material resources, in a manner characterized by wastefulness that a society burdened with heavy loads cannot afford. All of these have launched into flashy development projects, with sparkle and prestige, based on partial studies and plans that most often did not go beyond the surface, in order to penetrate the dynamics of the underdeveloped structure on one hand, or the psychological and mental formation of the underdeveloped human being whom they aimed to develop on the other. Imported plans based on models implemented and successful in industrial countries were devised, but the course of these plans did not go far, as imported experiments and pasted projects from abroad were mitigated, and projects with promotional spectacle failed to move the entire society’s structure or to elevate the human being of that society. This is because the human element in these societies was not viewed as a fundamental and central element in any development plan. Development, regardless of its field, fundamentally depends on changing the human being and his perspective on matters. Therefore, things must be placed within their correct human framework, taking into account the characteristics of the population group whose lifestyle is to be developed. Consequently, it is necessary to study these characteristics, understand their structure and dynamics, which is what this attempt aims to do, despite possible shortcomings, aspiring to open the way for field psychological research that seeks to understand the backward human being in his nature and specific situation, in a lively and realistic manner, to serve as the foundations of the science of the psychology of underdevelopment.