Muslim Development at Risk The Crisis of Human Resources

Abstract

Regardless of the definitions chosen, the conceptual frameworks
adopted, or the analytical schemes utilized, many social analysts would
agree that, even after decades of struggle for national development and
modernization, the state of underdevelopment in Muslim countries has not
changed significantly.' on most of the standad measures conventionally
used to make international comparisons as regards national development,
Muslim countries occupy a disproportionate share of the bottom positions.
While they languish there, the rest of the world thrusts forwad2 Despite
the oil wealth of the Muslim world, most Muslim countties remain on the
periphery of the emerging global economy and 8tp: becoming incteasingly
marginalized as newly industrialized Third World countries enter the
competitive international marketplace. The Muslims' failure to transform
their societies and become productive is due to their lack of knowledge,
skills, and capabilities in most areas of intellectual endeavor, especially
in the scientific and technical fields. More specifically, their inability to
use the tools, techniques, and procedures of modem science for developmental
changes is the result of deficiencies in their human resources.
This paper examines the present status of human resoutces in the
Muslim world and Assesses their prospects for the future direction of development
and modernization. Its analysis is confined to the relationship ...