Social Change in the Gulf Region: Multidisciplinary Perspectives

Preface
Acknowledgements
Contents
Editors and Contributors
1 Social Change and Transformation in the Gulf Region
1.1 The Study of Social Change in the Arabian Gulf Region
1.2 Structure of the Volume
References
Part I Social Sphere
2 Social Media in the GCC Countries—Facilitator or Curse for Generation “Z”?
2.1 Introduction
2.2 The Persian Gulf—A Gulf of the World?
2.2.1 Gulf’s Historical Societies
2.2.2 The Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf
2.3 Modernization, Technology, and Social Media in the Gulf Region
2.4 Social Media, the Arab Self, and the Psychological Effects on Generation Z
2.4.1 The Arab (Self) Identity
2.4.2 Self-Concept and Generation “Z”
2.5 Conclusions
Works Cited
3 Identity and Globalisation: Tribal Identity in the Age of Social Media
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Identity in the Age of Globalisation
3.3 Tribes in the Gulf Region
3.4 Social Media and Tribes in the Gulf Region
3.5 Social Media, Tribal Organisation, and the Gulf Crisis
3.6 Conclusion
References
4 Chai Karak: The Politics of Tea and the Coloniality of Appropriation in the UAE
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Methodology
4.3 Analogous Case Studies
4.4 Theoretical Framework
4.5 Migration and the Status of South Asians in the UAE
4.6 Interview Results and Analysis
4.7 Conclusion
References
5 Tujjar in the Gulf: Changes in Political Influence
5.1 Introduction
5.2 The Evolution of the GCC Cities
5.3 The Gulf’s Transnational Dimension: The Role of Tujjar
5.4 The Political Clout of Tujjar: The Cases of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE
5.5 Aims and Challenges: Why History Is Important
5.6 Discussions and Conclusion: Identifying, Acknowledging, and Filling the Dearth
References
6 Social Justice in the Gulf States: A Case in Qatar
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Social Justice: Definition and the Context
6.3 Social Justice in Providing Health Service
6.3.1 Social Justice in COVID-19 Vaccination
6.4 Social Justice in Migrant Worker Sector
6.4.1 Labour Sector Reforms
6.4.2 Wage Protection System (WPS)
6.4.3 Adoption of Minimum Wage
6.4.4 Abolition of Kafala System and Ease of the Change of Sponsorship
6.4.5 Introducing Qatar Visa Center (QVC)
6.4.6 Protection of Domestic Workers
6.4.7 Grievance Redress Mechanism
6.4.8 Establishment of Workers’ Support and Insurance Fund
6.5 Rule of Law
6.6 Addressing the Human Trafficking Issues
6.7 Conclusion
Notes
References
7 Social Justice Under COVID-19: A Comparative Study of Health and Socioeconomic Policy Responses in the Arab Mashreq and the Arab Gulf
7.1 Introduction: Social Justice in Policy Response to COVID-19
7.2 Health Context and Infrastructure Shaping Different Policy Responses
7.3 Case Studies of Social Inclusion/Exclusion in Health Policy Response
7.4 Case Studies of Socioeconomic Disparities in Policy Response
7.5 Economic Response Between Including All Businesses or Excluding Small Ones
7.6 Unjust Policy Response in the Labor Sector
7.7 Conclusion
References
8 Graduate Research Experience in the Arab Gulf: The Case in Qatar
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Graduate Education in the GCC States
8.3 Graduate Education in Qatar
8.4 Inadequate English Academic Writing Skills Among L2 Graduates
8.5 Beyond the Language Barriers
8.6 To Thrive or Not to Thrive
8.7 Conclusion
References
9 Transition to Online Teaching Under COVID-19: The Case Study of UAE University
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Transition to Online Teaching Across the Globe
9.2.1 Online Learning in Higher Education Before the COVID-19 Pandemic
9.2.2 Online Higher Education Under the COVID-19 Pandemic
9.3 Digitization of Higher Education in the UAE Before COVID-19
9.4 Transition to Full-Time Online Teaching and Learning Under the COVID-19 Pandemic in the UAE
9.5 Experience of the Transition to Online Teaching at the UAE University
9.5.1 The UAEU Management of the Transition to Online Teaching and Learning Under COVID-19
9.5.2 The UAEU Study Description: Data and Analytical Strategy
9.5.3 The UAEU Study Outcomes
9.5.4 The Role of Gender and/or Family Status in Adjustment to Online Teaching
9.5.5 Challenges, Satisfaction, and Comfortability with the Online Teaching
9.6 Conclusions
References
10 Women’s Status in the Process of Socio-Political Development in Iran
10.1 Introduction
10.2 The Situation of Women in the World and Iran
10.3 The Status of Iranian Women before Islamic Revolution of Iran
10.4 The Status of Women in Iran’s Development plans after Islamic Revolution of Iran
10.5 Women's Social Rights in Iran
10.6 The Participation in the Presidential and Assembly of Experts Elections
10.7 The Presence of Women in the Guardian Council and the Expediency Council
10.8 The Presence of Women in the Cabinet
10.9 Women’s Membership in City and Village Councils
10.10 The Presence of Women in the Islamic Consultative Assembly
10.11 Barriers to Women’s Participation in Iran
10.12 Conclusion
References
11 Reasons for Divorce in Kuwait: An Application of the Likelihood of Divorce Inventory (LDI)
11.1 Introduction
11.2 Divorce in the Existing Literature
11.3 Objectives and Research Questions
11.4 Research Methods
11.5 Results
11.6 Discussions
11.7 Implications for Practice
References
12 The Transformation-Migration Nexus in the United Arab Emirates: A Historical Analysis
12.1 Introduction
12.2 Theorising the Transformation-Migration Nexus
12.3 From Pearling to the Oil Economy
12.4 The Sheikhdoms/Emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai
12.5 The Transformation-Migration Nexus
12.6 Conclusion
References
13 Migrant Networks and Credit: Dynamics of Punjabi Migration to the Gulf Countries
13.1 The History of Punjabi Migration from Colonial Period to Present Time
13.2 Methodology
13.3 Nature of Migration Process and Social Networks
13.4 Typology of Debts
13.5 Recipient and Control Over Remittances
13.6 Utilization of Remittances
13.7 Conclusion
References
14 From ‘Brain Drain’ to ‘Capital Gain’: Indian Skilled Migration to the UAE
14.1 Introduction
14.2 Revisiting the Brain Drain Debate in the Globalized World
14.3 The United Arab Emirates as a Migration Destination
14.4 Historical Patterns of Indian Migration to the GCC
14.5 Determinants of Talent Mobility
14.6 Evolving Migrant Identities
14.6.1 Transnational Entrepreneurs
14.6.2 Return Migrants
14.7 Capital Gain: Remittances and Foreign Direct Investment
14.8 Conclusion
References
15 The Choice for the “Zendegie Normal (Normal Life)”: Changes Among Iranian Young Immigrants
15.1 Introduction
15.2 The Historical Flow of Iranian Overseas Migration and Forms of Migration
15.3 Why Are They Leaving Iran?
15.4 Iran’s Brain Drain Phenomenon
15.5 Conclusion
References
Part II Cultural Sphere
16 The Threat to Cultural Heritage in Times of Conflict and Its Dynamic Relationship with Gulf Society
16.1 The Case of the Gulf States
16.2 Laws in the Gulf Pertaining to Trafficking of Antiquities
16.3 In the Gulf too, Private collections have become a Trend
16.4 Trafficking of Cultural Material in the Gulf
16.5 The Rising Threat of Social Media in Looting and Trafficking in Stolen Antiquities
References
17 Challenges of Communication and Identity in the Gulf: Insights from Qatar and the UAE
17.1 Introduction
17.2 Theoretical Issues and Data Sources
17.3 Analysis and Findings
17.4 Communicating in a Multilingual Setting
17.5 Perceptions of Fear of Loss of Arabic in GCC
17.6 Measures to Arrest the Perceived Decline of Arabic
17.7 Conclusions
References
18 Reverse Orientalism? French Salafis’ Fascination with Saudi Arabia
18.1 French Salafi Orientalism: A Construction of the Self and the Otherness
18.2 French Salafis and Saudi Arabia: A Religious Utopia?
18.2.1 The Orientalism of the French Salafis: A “Western” View of the Orient
18.3 An Orientalism “of the Interior,” or How to Reify the Orient When You Are from It
18.3.1 An Orientalism “in Reverse”: An Orient Better Than the West
18.3.2 Constructing a West as a Negative Mirror of the Orient, or Salafi Occidentalism
18.4 Concluding Remarks: an Imaginary Socialization?
Notes
References
19 Art in Contact Zone in the UAE and Qatar: Trans-Regional Cultural Policy and Rise of New Artistic Movements
19.1 Introduction
19.2 Theoretical Approach: Contact Zone and Trans-Region
19.3 Production of Arab Culture: National Museum to Transnational Museum
19.4 New Art Movements in the Region: Post-modern Art to Transmodern Art
19.5 Conclusion: Transcultural Contact Zone
References
20 The Gulf as a Global Contact Zone: Chronotopic Identities and (Linguistic) Landscapes
20.1 The Birth of Gulf States: From the Collapse of the Ottoman Empire to the Independence
20.2 The Gulf as a Regional System
20.3 Social Change and the Gulf as a Global Contact Zone
20.4 Qatar: Population Trends Over the Last Century
20.5 Key-Concepts: Kafāla, Chronotope, Superdiversity, Transnationalism, and Linguistic Landscape
20.6 Chronotope
20.7 Superdiversity
20.8 The Urban Space in Doha: The Preservation of Cultural Heritage Faces Social Complexity
20.9 Multilingual Panels and the Relation Between Signs and Contents: Visualizing the Invisible
References
21 Vocabulary Changes in the Arab, Turk, and Persian Bilingual Societies in Northeastern Iran
21.1 Introduction
21.2 Research Methods
21.3 Theoretical Issues
21.4 Data Analysis
21.5 Results and Discussions
21.6 Turkic and Persian
21.7 Balochi and Persian
21.8 Arabic and Persian
21.9 Turkmen and Persian
21.10 Conclusion
References
Chapter 22 Shellyseer: A Literary Evolution
Abstract
22.1 Introduction
22.2 The History of Drama in the Middle East
22.3 Background and Inspiration
22.4 Shellyseer Meeting Aristotle’s Elements
22.5 Conclusion
References
Part III Economic Sphere
23 Working for God (and Country): Religious Education and Economic Diversification in the United Arab Emirates
23.1 Introduction
23.2 Labor Nationalization and “Work-Readiness”
23.3 The Ideal Citizen and Educational Reform
23.4 Islamic Education as a State Instrument
23.5 Data and Methods
23.6 Vision of Progress and the Textbooks
23.6.1 Religion and Science in Harmony
23.6.2 Work and Worship
23.6.3 Cultivation of the Earth
23.7 Conclusion
References
24 Innovation, Technology Transfer, and Endogenous Growth in the GCC Countries
24.1 Introduction
24.2 Why Do GCC Countries Need an Economic Transformation?
24.2.1 The Hydrocarbon Sector Dominates the Gulf Economies
24.3 How Does Endogenous Growth Theory Affect the Economics Transformation?
24.3.1 An Assessment of Innovation for Economics transformation in the GCC Countries
24.4 Conclusion
References
25 The New Arab Gulf: Evaluating the Success of Economic Diversification in the UAE
25.1 Introduction
25.2 Role of Natural Resources Rents in the GCC States
25.3 Diversification Initiatives in the GCC States
25.4 Can the UAE Serve as a Successful Model of Economic Diversification?
25.5 Conclusion
References
26 Economic Development Models of Doha and Dubai: A Comparative Analysis
26.1 Introduction
26.2 Development Paths: Theoretical Orientations
26.2.1 Traditional Society (Dubai Before 1971)
26.2.2 Pre-Condition for Taking off (Early to Mid-1970s)
26.2.3 Take-Off (From Late 1970s Till 1980s)
26.2.4 Drive to Maturity—The Period of Self-Sustained Growth (1990s–2000s)
26.2.5 Stage of Mass Consumption
26.3 Elite-Driven Development: The Vision of the State
26.4 Development Factors and Comparative Advantages: Dubai and Doha
26.5 Dubai’s Development Strategies and Economic Factors
26.6 Doha’s Development Strategies and Economic Factors
26.7 Conclusion
References
27 The 2017 Gulf Crisis and Changes in Qatar’s Economic Landscape
27.1 Food Security
27.2 Aviation Sector
27.3 Emerging Trade Partners
27.4 National Seaports and Domestic Production
27.5 Summary
Notes
References
28 Green Supply Chains: A Comparative Efficiency Analysis in the Gulf and Beyond
28.1 Introduction
28.2 Relationship Between Trade Competitiveness and Supply Chain Efficiency: Examples
28.3 Green Supply Chains
28.4 Logistics Performance Index (LPI)
28.5 The Green Logistics Performance Index (GLPI)
28.6 Green Supply Chains and LPI
28.7 Green Supply Chains and Sustainable Development Goals
28.8 CSR and Green Supply Chains
28.9 Research Design
28.10 Results
28.11 Extended Model RAM-DEA
28.12 Conclusions
28.13 Implications for Countries in the GCC
References
29 Greening the Desert: Sustainability Challenges and Environmental Initiatives in the GCC States
29.1 Introduction
29.2 Role of Oil in the Development of Arabian Gulf Countries
29.3 Environmental Challenges in the Arabian Gulf Countries
29.3.1 Climate Change
29.3.2 Oil Spills
29.3.3 Air Pollution
29.3.4 Marine and Coastal Environment
29.4 Environmental Sustainability Initiatives
29.5 Conclusion
References
30 Unemployment Challenge and Labor Market Participation of Arab Gulf Youth: A Case Study of the UAE
30.1 Introduction
30.2 Country Background and Labor Market of the UAE
30.3 Youth challenges in the Labor Market of the UAE
30.3.1 Government Role and Social Policies for the Youth
30.4 Monitoring of Emirati Youth: Labor Market Participation Analysis
30.4.1 Data and Methodology
30.4.2 Labor Market Participation of Emirati Youth
30.4.3 The Transition from School to Work and Employment Trajectories of Emirati Youth
30.5 Conclusions
References
31 Chinese Investments in the Special Economic Zones in the Gulf Region: New Structural Economics Perspective
31.1 Introduction
31.2 China’s Economic Cooperation with the Gulf States
31.3 The Framework of Analysis: New Structural Economics (NSE)
31.4 BRI: China Goes Global
31.5 China-Oman Industrial Park in Duqm
31.6 The Petrochemical and Chemical Fibre Integrated Project in JCPDI
31.7 China-UAE Industrial Capacity Cooperation Demonstration Zone (CUICCDZ)
31.8 Discussion
31.9 Conclusion
References
32 China in the Middle East: Foreign Direct Investment, Economic Transformation, and Regional Development
32.1 Introduction
32.2 Conceptual Background: The Popular Narratives
32.3 Chinese FDI in MENA: Analysis and Results
32.4 Conclusion
References
Chapter 33 Japan and the Gulf States: Friendship Prospects Under the FOIP Initiative
Abstract
33.1 What is the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy”?
33.2 What are the major obstacles facing Japan’s strategy?
33.3 Conclusion
References
Part IV Political Sphere
34 Khaleeji Modernities: Private Spaces, British Imperialism, and the Centralization of the Qatari Peninsula
34.1 Introduction
34.2 What is the Majlis System? Semi-Private Spaces and Politics in Qatar
34.3 Birth and Development of the Khaleeji Leviathan. The Majlis as Seen by the British Empire
34.4 Conclusion
Bibliography
Chapter 35 Kuwait's Mediation in the Gulf Crisis: Dynamics of Kuwait's Foreign Policy Approaches
Abstract
35.1 Introduction
35.2 The 2017 Gulf Crisis and Theoretical Issues
35.3 Research Methods
35.4 Why Did the Disputants Accept Kuwait as a Mediator in 2017?
35.4.1 Qatar
35.4.2 The Blockading Countries
35.5 Why Did Kuwait Become the Mediator?
35.5.1 The Foreign Policy of Kuwait
35.5.2 Economic Concerns
35.5.3 Security
35.5.4 Domestic Sphere of Kuwait
35.6 Conclusion
References
Chapter 36 Political Power and Material Identity: Saudi Women in Real and Virtual Societies
Abstract
36.1 Introduction
36.2 Saudi Women Before 2016: The Presence of the Internet and the Absence of Its Influence
36.3 The Impact of the Economic Factor on the Saudi Decision-Makers’ Attitudes Towards Women
36.4 Changing the “Black Abaya” Material Identity in Real Society
36.5 Saudi Women and the Reduced Effect of the Panopticon
36.6 Conclusion
References
37 Saudi Women Activism through Media
37.1 Introduction
37.2 Changing Position of Women
37.3 Women Activism Through Media
37.4 Conclusion
References
38 Yemen, the Wound that Still Bleeds in the Gulf and Beyond
38.1 Introduction
38.2 The Internal Dynamic
38.2.1 Yemeni Identity
38.2.2 The Yemeni Spring: Alí Abdullah Saleh Fall
38.2.3 Failed Transition: From the National Dialogue Conference to the Armed Conflict
38.3 The Regional Dynamic
38.3.1 Internationalization of the Conflict
38.3.2 Hegemonic Dispute
38.3.3 Iranian Proxy War and Saudi Coalition Breakdown
38.3.4 Yemen in Flames: Dissolution of Liquid Alliances, Extremism, and Humanitarian Crisis
38.3.5 2020: COVID-19 Pandemic, Geopolitical Readjustment, and Deepening of Humanitarian Crisis
38.3.6 Reorientation of actor’s Positions
38.3.7 Deepening of the Humanitarian Crisis
38.4 Conclusion
References
39 China’s COVID-19 Vaccine Diplomacy in the Gulf and Beyond: Efforts and Challenges
39.1 China’s COVID-19 Vaccines Assistance to the Middle East
39.2 China’s Motivations of Vaccines Diplomacy
39.3 Challenges of China’s Vaccines Diplomacy
39.4 Conclusion
References