Saudi Arabia Political Economy Environment - Dissertation Example

SAUDI ARABIA POLITICAL ECONOMY ENVIRONMENT Lecturer: Address: Saudi Arabia Political Economy Environment Economy Women in Saudi Arabia have been estimated to be approximately half of the population. The unique ration of men to women in the region is due to over 5 million, most of whom are male, workers who have immigrated into Saudi Arabia from foreign regions. 1 The degree of literacy in the area is about three-quarters, yet the breakout age has not yet been established.2 The high percentage of educated women is founded on the requirement that all children be educated. The results of this policy are that about 58% of the university students in Saudi Arabia are women, following globalization, education, and economic benefits, more women in the Kingdom are being employed, estimated at about 5% to 15% of the workforce are women.3 Several factors contribute to women being in business include: Women are responsible for controlling most of the country’s wealth, and as a consequence are able to access informal funding which support the growth of business entrepreneurs. It is estimated that women are in possession of over SR45 billion, most of which (approximately 75%) is deposited, idly, in banks.4 Ownership of businesses in the Kingdom have about 4% of the businesses belonging to women, the retail sector has about 5,500 commercial registrations being of projects by women, which accounts to an estimated 20% in the retail, contractual, wholesaling, and transferable businesses sectors, and Arab News has recognized the contribution made by women in the economy of the region, by publishing the Kingdom’s top twenty women ventures in the region in March 2007.5 This was reported as a new perspective that deviates from the norm, where men are considered the entrepreneurs and pillars of Saudi Arabia’s economy. The current rise in women involvement in economy is based on the education and financial strength gained by women. Women have gained power through empowerment via education and business.6 Businesses in Saudi Arabia have a high affiliation to family, with women being partners in the ventures, but in most cases, they are silent partners. The women are projected to own about 40% of business owned families. Contrary to popular opinion, not all men in the kingdom are against women owning businesses.7 Women who engage in business are beneficially of support from their spouses, and fathers. This support can be financial, psychological, as well as entrepreneurial. Politics Women are beneficiaries of social motivation, and as such, they have gotten involved in politics. Political involvements of women have come about because of social acceptance of the women’s leadership positions. Women have been accepted by society as leaders in different social circles, and by extension in politics. Domination of the male in politics has marginalized women, such that their rights have been ignored for years. Fights for women’s rights has been associated with some of the temperaments in middle east society, with the government and society imposing on the need to observe tradition and remain a male chauvinist society.8 This has been changing as realizations that women do have contributions to leadership, governance, and politics has allowed women to take up political responsibilities and assume civil duties. In an ordinary society, women play an important role in normalcy, and represent a large portion of that community. Ignoring the plight of women is plummeting society to danger in various ways since the community has expectations that are best met by women. Not observing the rights of women in society translates ignoring almost half of the Saudi Arabia community,9 which consequently means holding back society from making any developments. Advancements and freedom in society are challenged without women in politics. Ensuring participation of women in politics results in development of policies that integrate their needs. The need to have the women rights incorporated in the law that provides the motivation of women’s participation in political movements. The women are better equipped to represent their rights and needs, to men who have little knowledge of the issues that face women in society, employment, business, and governance.10 The means by which women participate in politics follows a common procedure in which the women’s contributions are realized. The first phase of the political revolution to include women follows protests and fights that target rights which the women are being denied. 11 The rights movements lead to the formation of unions and collations that are the voice of the masses, allowing the women to address not only the local, but national audiences. Unions and other interested parties are able to air their views via use of the fourth estate (media). The development follows the belief of strength in numbers, as the women rights do not represent individual gains, but a social interest. Having the rights of women in the form of social interest attracts national and international interests that contribute to the growth of the political involvement of women to playing an active role in politics.12 The Middle East in general suffers from low numbers of women in politics. Participation of women is in its revolutionary phase, with women gaining more need and audacity to engage in what is considered a traditionally male role. Participation of women in politics is low world over, but Saudi Arabia, being in the Middle East suffers even lesser numbers. There is a direct correlation to the dominant religion, governance, and politics in the region, as in most Islamic states, women do not engage in political activities. Women are a resource to the development of Saudi Arabia, and it is an untapped resource. The contribution of women in social and economic arenas is an example of the benefits that can be achieved with the incorporation of women in various endeavors. Increasing participation of women in politics is a path that should be followed and has various benefits from the low number of women participating in current governance affairs. Representation by women in parliament level is elemental to the formation of laws that help in development of the society as a legal entity. Women leaders have influenced society as well as women in matters of political affiliation, participation and the resultant laws of the region. Conclusion The acknowledgement of women in politics and business from other regions, in the Middle East as well as other global regions serve as testament of what empowered women can accomplish. There is a need for women to partake in politics and business, in the intent of benefiting society. Considering the development of Saudi Arabia, economically, and politically, women must partake in the fields in an effort to advance community. Advancement of the Saudi Arabia community is intent on the involvement of both men and women in different endeavors that facilitate growth, in different capacities. Women engaging in business and politics will result in the Arabian community benefiting from the educated women, with respect to the other global trends. Recommendations on the engagement of women in politics are based on the reassessment and reassignment of roles and responsibilities in society. Considering the percentage of educated women in Saudi Arabia, there is much to be gained with the contribution of women in politics and business. Women’s participation in politics has much potential, as it is baffling why there has been no deputy minister to date in the kingdom. The transition between educational institutes, business, and politics needs to be revised to facilitate the turnover of women into the two fields. Considering that, about 56% of the university graduates in Saudi Arabia are women, and only 4% of the graduates are in the workforce, a discrepancy exists that degrades potential of the community. The argument that can be derived from the statistics is that education and capability are not huddles that prevent the women from engaging in business and politics, it is the lack of opportunity and structure that limit women participation as well as their benefits to society. Bibliography Bernstein, J. William. A Splendid Exchange: How Trade Shaped the World. New York: Grove Press, 2008. Bradley, R. John. Saudi Arabia Exposed: Inside a Kingdom in Crisis. New York: Palgrave, 2005. Forsythe, P. David. Encyclopaedia of Human Rights Volume 2. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009. Hesford, Wendy, and Wendy Kozol. Just Advocacy?: Women Human Rights, Transnational Feminism, and the Politics of Representation. New Brunswick, NJ: Ritgers University Press, 2005. House, Karen Elliot. On Saudi Arabia: Its People, Past, Religion, Fault Lines and Future. New York: Knopf, 2012. Lacey, Robert. Inside the Kingdom: Kings, Clerics, Modernists, Terrorists and the Struggle for Saudi Arabia. New York: Viking, 2009. Mayer, Anne. Islam and Human Rights: Tradition and Politics. Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press, 2007. Vincent, Peters. Saudi Arabia: An Environmental Overview. New York: Taylor and Francis, 2008. Read More