The Contrast between Saudi Arabia and the United States - Essay Example

Compare and Contrast Saudi Arabia and the United s 25th, September, Saudi Arabia and the United s Saudi Arabia and the United States ascertained full diplomatic relation in 1940. Saudi Arabia play a unique role in the Islamic and Arab worlds, as it is the world’s principal reserves of oil. This makes it friendship with the United States important as the two countries share common concerns of oil imports and exports. Still, they consult each other on regional security since Saudi Arabia provides military tools. The country partners with the United States to defend their security issues. Following this, it is obvious that the two countries have a longstanding relationship. However, this paper seeks to discuss four issues that affect each country and these are religion, social behaviour, politics, and economic development. In discussing, will explore how these issues bring into light the differences and similarities of the two countries. There are many differences between the two countries. These differences are consequence of religion, social behaviour, politics, and economic development. According to Akers (2007), Islam is the chief religion in Saudi Arabia practiced by 96% of the total population. Of the total population, 3.5% presents Christians and 0.6% Hinduism. Baha’i followers add up to a mere percentage of 0.1% of the total population. However, Christianity is the chief religion in the United States with 78% of the population. 15% of the population do not have an identity in religion, and 7% are Muslims. These statistics indicate that Christianity is the dominant religion in the United States. Secondly, there are differences in social behaviour between the two countries attributed by religion and other factors. For instance, collectivism is more essential in Saudi society that it is in the American society. Arguably, Saudi people prefer working in a group to doing work alone. In contrast, American people are reserved as they prefer doing work alone to working in groups. For instance, in most cases they finance their business instead of requesting other people to invest in it. Saudi’s regard themselves as members of one group thus; they work together as a team to make things happen. As a result, their social ties are strong augmented by their religion faith; Islamic that inspires many to work together. Americans are more individual than Saudi people in that their decisions are based on their self-gain contrary to the Saudi’s who make decisions that benefit the society as whole. Strong social ties are core issues in Saudi Arabia for instance, one cannot work dutifully without having good relationship between the management team at work. However, in the American society, work is the most important thing and one does not let social life between them and the management or fellow employees affect their work. Following this, Saudi Arabia stands as the largest collectivist society whereby the family and other social ties are crucial aspect of personal identity. Effective communication and face to face interaction prevail over this culture. However, for Westerners particularly Americans development is core concern and less regard the need of having a high-context of communication. Nevertheless, due to emerging technologies in the United States most people prefer to interact online to meeting in groups (Henning, 2008). Saudi Arabia maintains their traditional customs that the man should make all decisions. Women should not make decisions without men approval because of their wisdom. On the other hand, men and women play an important role in decision making and no one is exempted in the American culture. Thirdly, Saudi politics and government are important features that frame the administrative policies as well as foreign relation of the country. Its’ monarchical government is ruled by a king who act as the head of the monarchy. As argued, religion plays a vital role in the Saudi society in that it guides their every part of the lives. The government power is limited as it is guided by religious leaders or Ulemas (Akers, 2007). The king appoints one hundred and fifty member of the consultative body that guide the administrative for a period of four years. In this case, responsibilities of the administration are allocated among the king’s cabinet ministry. It further divided in several government ministries with chosen leaders responsible over finance, education, defence, and agriculture among others. The chosen ministers assist in efficiency and vital progress of the nation. The country respects human rights best revealed in their ruling and constitution. Contrary, the United Stated is oldest democracy globally established in 1789. The country has a Federal political system, which implies power sharing between the national and central government with the States. There are fifty States and thirteen original colonies that formed the United States in 1789. These States include Virginia, Connecticut, Georgia, Delaware, New York, South Carolina, North Carolina, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts (United States, 2009). Typically, the national government also referred as the Federal Government comprises of three branches; Legislative, Executive, and Judicial Branch. In this case, the Legislative Branch comprises of Senate and House Representatives. The Executive Branch comprises of the Cabinet, President, and The Federal Departments and Agencies while the Judicial Branch encompasses of the Supreme Court and other Federal Courts. The legal systems of the Saudi Arabia are based on the Sharia law through and the government regards the Holy Quran and Sunni school as chief determinant of the nation’s constitution. However, in the U.S. legal systems based on Christian doctrines and the constitution greatly favours the religion in its teaching. Fourthly, the Saudi Arabia’s economic development stem from oil revenues and the non-hydrocarbons exports. Oil production has set a strong pace for economic growth as the country exports oil globally. While the increase in GDP is driven by oil revenue along with the State’s investment programme, the government initiates a long-term policy in leadership that diversify the economy thus, having a great impact in the nation’s development. However, the change of the political system in the Middle East poses a core challenge in the collapse of the nation. The fundamental of the nation’s development is accounted by oil sectors and modern industries established that in turn, augment economic development. In essence, private sectors are paramount in that they increasingly drive the economic. Nevertheless, there has been a concern on inadequate job opportunities that create a major economic development challenge. The country encounters similar challenges of economic development to those of Middle-income countries but oil boom makes the difference of why it is more developed compared to other countries within that region. However, the United States Economy is influenced by abundant natural resources, high productivity, and developed infrastructures. The country is the world’s largest producer of nuclear energy, salt, phosphates, natural gas, sulphur, and electricity. Although agriculture is not prominent, the country is world’s chief producer of soya beans and corn. Compared to other nations, the country is the leading nation of employment where most foreigners migrate to in search for job opportunities. Although the American Society and Saudi Society differ in many ways, they share similarities. First, the two countries possess the world’s main reserves of oil, which in turn augment economic development. Both countries share common interest on oil import and export that makes their friendship important. Secondly, the two countries share similar concerns on regional security as they partner in counterterrorism efforts by providing military tools and financial cooperation. Saudi Arabia partners with U.S. law enforcement to safeguard and maintain their security interests as indicated in the article, Real Estate Weekly News 2012. This stands out that the two countries have a longstanding relationship on government in discussing security issues affecting their nations. Thirdly, both countries are largest trading partners in different goods and services. For instance, the U.S is largest trading partner of the Saudi Arabia while Saudi Arabia is the largest export markets within Middle East of the U.S. The two countries signed a Trade Investment Framework Agreement to create more opportunities for trading and investment. The availability of oil resources from Saudi Arabia is paramount to the affluence of the U.S economy providing over million barrels of oil to the U.S market daily. Fourthly, the United States and Saudi Arabia belong to similar international organizations such as World Trade Organization. Still, Saudi Arabia observes the organization of the American States. Fourthly, both countries have freedom of religion and no law forbids citizens from practising other religions. In turn, it gives citizens a chance to choose the religion of their choice. Fifthly, religion plays a fundamental role in the two countries. The legal systems based their entirely laws on the religion and those bleaching the law may be imprisoned or sentenced to death. Lastly, the two countries have a strong government that seeks to improve people’s welfare. In doing, they have different ministries that seek to solve and meet people’s needs. Still, they regard the need of respecting human rights as a way of promoting justice and equality in the land. Following this discussion, one can affirm that Saudi Arabia play a fundamental role in the Islamic and Arab worlds, as it is the world’s principal reserves of oil and military tools. The two countries share common interests in export and import of oil that boost their economy. For effective trading, the two countries signed the World Trade Organization. Religion plays a vital role in the two countries, which guides the legal systems. However, there a lot of differences that emerges. First, Islamic is the chief religion for Saudi Arabia while Christianity to the United States. Secondly, there are strong social behaviours in Saudi Arabia who prefer working in groups to working alone. On the other hand, Americans prefer working alone to working in groups. Thirdly, religion shapes the Saudi society in social behaviours and dress code just to name a few, which is not the case in the American society. Americans are influenced by the western culture that less abides to religion beliefs in every aspect of their lives. References Akers, D. S. (2007). Saudi Arabia: Culture and customs of Saudi Arabia. The Middle East Journal, 61(1), 173-174. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/218571233?accountid=45049 Henning, S. (2008, Nov 01). Under god: In the United States, faith and politics are often intimately intertwined. McClatchy - Tribune Business News, pp. n/a. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/456914654?accountid=45049 United States. (2009). The Constitution of the United States and the Declaration of Independence. Washington, DC: U.S. G.P.O. United states mint; United States mint launches Chaco culture national historical park quarter at grand opening of the sites new visitor centre. (2012). Real Estate Weekly News, 126. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1010719863?accountid=45049 Read More