I want more then what dictionary says, like 
"See Synonyms at dictatorial. Overwhelming in power or
significance;.."

I would like some examples and way you how you decide who is arrogant.

Does it have to do with assuming a power you do not really have?
Does it depend on the outcome of the conflict? It does  not have to
deal with current international conflict, but it needs not to shrink
from that.
 (When I type 'arrogant' int google or google news, I gat pletora of
articles
and views. How do I decide?
 Does the question 'who was arrogant' depends on the outcome
 of the war or the conflict? Or it is more a moral judgement? 

Comments are welcome, since they may be different views. Ideal answer
will
wait few days and then provide a balanced summary of different views
and eventual comments.

---

Clarification of Question by hedgie-ga on 31 Mar 2003 01:30 PST

Hmm,
     I am hoping for an analysis based on 
psychological dynamics of small groups,
not just quotes.

I guess it must have something to do with 
pecking order, concensus and dissent about status.
Is arrogance always  negative and boorish
behaviour? Was Galielo arrogant when he was
saying that Earth moves, not Sun (hehe)?
Do we still say he was arrogant (but right?)...

Hedgie,

I will start out with what the dictionary has to say:

Dictionary.com - "arrogant"
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=arrogant
"1. Having or displaying a sense of overbearing self-worth or
self-importance.
2. Marked by or arising from a feeling or assumption of one's
superiority toward others"

And:

"1. Making, or having the disposition to make, exorbitant claims of
rank or estimation; giving one's self an undue degree of importance;
assuming; haughty; -- applied to persons. (...)
2. Containing arrogance; marked with arrogance; proceeding from undue
claims or self-importance; -- applied to things; as, arrogant
pretensions or behavior"

And also:

Having "or showing feelings of unwarranted importance out of
overbearing pride"


As for the current conflict, this search yields results:

Google search - "arrogant nation" conflict
http://google.com/search?&q=%22arrogant+nation%22+conflict

President George W. Bush is quoted to have said following:

Thingo.net
http://www.thingo.net/
"If we are an arrogant nation, they will resent us. If we're a humble
nation, but strong, they'll welcome us."

Slightly different in the following version:

CNN.com - Possible use of force in Iraq - Mar. 7, 2003
http://cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/03/07/cf.opinion.iraq.debate/
"If we [are an] arrogant nation, they'll resent us. If we're a humble
nation and strong, they welcome us."

Also, following is attributed to Bush:

A Utopian Adventure Headed for Disaster
http://www.ciponline.org/iraq/adventure.htm
"If we are an arrogant nation, they'll view us that way, but if we are
a humble nation, they'll respect us."


Hope this helps.

I agree that arrogance is a subjective interpretation.

A person who may seem arrogant at first is probably just misinformed,
and being the optimist that I am, I prefer to think that he/she will
be rational enough to modify his/her viewpoint.

A truly arrogant person is one who does not alter his/her opinion when
presented with evidence to the contrary.

A person of my acquaintance maintains that his misspelling of a word
is correct, because he is spelling the word as he believes it *ought*
to be spelled, regardless of what dictionaries say on the matter.

Being one's own ultimate reference source, in defiance of all others.
That's arrogance for you.

"Arrogant" and "arrogate" share a common derivation.

So the key trait you'll find in an arrogant person is that he will try
to take or retain what is not fairly his, in defiance of the rule of
law, contract or common courtesy.

To claim for one's self.

In the movie "Lorenzo's Oil", the dying boys father is told, "Telling
the doctors how to do their job is pretty arrogant." The father
replies, "Yes, arrogant from the Latin word "arrogare" to claim for
one's self. I claim the right to help my son in anyway I can!" (Not
exact quote, remembered from Mark Victor Hansen tape I had heard.)
Anyway the guy starts a newsletter of all the families stricken with
this Adrenoleukodystrophy to share what each family and their
respective doctors have tried. Great movie.

The following is a line from Dan Kennedy's book "The Ultimate Success
Secret", I think it does well to describe where are President is, it
is a quote by General Norman Schwartzkopf in Houston, Texas:" ...if
you are put in charge, when you are put in charge, what should you do?
TAKE CHARGE!"

Dan goes on to tell, Schwartzkopf was talking about the very essence
of leadership- not waiting, not procrastinating, not looking around to
copy how others did it or are doing it, not waiting for a committee to
cover your butt its' recommendations; instead, stepping forward to do
what needs to be done and to do what is right.
(That was page 24, on page 25 Dan tells why we should ourselves TAKE
CHARGE... )
"The fact is: there is such a leadership vacuum just about everywhere.
Maybe in your home. Probably in your business or place of employment.
In your industry, in your community, in your church, in your country.
Quite bluntly, the very fact that a man of such obviously, severely
flawed character and un-American ideals as Bill Clinton can be elected
President of the United States speaks loudly about this universal
vacuum of leadership."

Sgt. Shultz knows... Nuthing!