Dictatorship Quote by Hamed Abdel-Samad
““The Islamic world can be viewed as an onion-layered multiple dictatorship: the dictatorship of political dynasties like the Mubarak, Gaddafi, Hussein, Ben Ali, and Assad families forms its first layer; the dictatorship of the military, the next; after that, that the dictatorship of religion, which determines how children are raised and educated; and finally, the dictatorship of society, which impacts life within families through archaic gender roles.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Onion Layers of Dictatorship, interview, 2020
The author describes the Islamic world as a series of overlapping dictatorships—political families, military, religion, and social norms—each reinforcing oppression.
In simple terms: Multiple overlapping oppressions shape societies.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and address each layer to foster change.
Themes
politics
military
religion
gender
societal norms
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
political
sociological
When to use this quote
- activism
- policy reform
- education
- community organizing
Key Concepts
authorial
structural analysis
human rights
Questions to Reflect On
- How can individuals challenge each layer?
- What role can external allies play?
A Different Perspective
Each layer can also provide avenues for resistance and reform.
![“[...] dictatorship, the most extreme form of tyranny, can never lead to social liberation.” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/869/noam-chomsky-42_dictatorship_dictatorship-the-most-extreme-form-of-ty_31180.jpg)
