Comparing and Contrasting Saudi Arabia and the USA - Essay Example

Comparing and Contrasting Saudi Arabia and USA The recent industrial development brought about significant improvements in almost all sectors in manycountries. As such, there are various differences and similarities between reference countries. The differences and similarities may relate to the religion of choice, politics, economy development, lifestyle, education, history, foreign policy, traditions, social behavior, the value of democracy, governance among other areas. This paper seeks to compare and contrast Saudi Arabia and USA in relation to the named sources of differences. Saudi Arabia is a Middle East country located southwest Asia, at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. America on the other hand is in North America between Canada and Mexico where it borders the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean. Saudi Arabia occupies an estimated area of 2,149,690 square kilometers with a population of about 29,207,277 people. American population approximates at 293,500,000 people and occupies an area of about, 631,418 square kilometers. The capital city of America is Washington, DC while Riyadh is the largest and capital city of Saudi Arabia. English is the most common language in America while both Arabic and English dominate in Saudi Arabia. The American national flag has Red, white and blue colors, 13 stripes that represent the 13 original states and 50 stars that represent the 50 states in America. On the other hand, Saudi Arabian national flag has a green background and white inscriptions of the Muslim creed in Arabic. While 50 states makes up the United States of America, one states makes up Saudi Arabia. America enjoys three seasons but has mostly a temperate type of a climate. Saudi Arabia climate is usually very hot in the desert, humid at the coast and very mild during winter. Saudi Riyal is the national currency in Saudi Arabia while the American dollar is the national currency in America. In the education system, there are similarities and equal differences between America and Saudi Arabia. Indeed, the similarities manifest in freedom to choose institutions of learning, governments spending and provision of education for all including those with special needs. The differences manifest in literacy levels, stages of education, gender roles, role of religion, and attitude towards education. In fact, in both countries, education is a major priority and as such both governments allocates huge resources to the education sector. To this extent, both governments finances general education for both boys and girls, accords financial assistance to needy students and offers free post-secondary education to all. At the same time, both governments provide many learning institutions that are well equipped to allow for specialization and high quality education (Sedgwick, 2008). In addition, students in both countries are at liberty to choose the school or universities where they can join public, private, or home school. Furthermore, both countries create an enabling and competitive environment for the provision of education to students with special needs. Nevertheless, there are huge disparities in the running of education systems between the two nations. Indeed, the level of attitude towards education varies in that while in America education attendance is mandatory, education attendance is a matter of choice in Saudi Arabia. Actually, education is uniform at primary and secondary levels. In addition, the aspect of religion plays part in Saudi Arabian education system and has no effect in American education system. Actually, education in Saudi Arabia relates with religion where the school curriculum follows sharia law and Quran teachings. The issue of gender brings a huge difference between the two education systems. Saudi Arabia practices sex segregation according to sharia law thus offering single-sex schools while America offers multi-sex schools (U.S. Network for Education Information, 2001). Uniquely is the fact that though education is universal for both genders in America giving them equal opportunities to study, boys and girls receive distinct education in Saudi Arabia. In fact, in Saudi Arabia we have traditional Islamic education for boys, education for girls, and general education for boys (Sedgwick, 2008). Another difference arises in the grading scales. Subject to the three education systems in Saudi Arabia, the grading system ranges from one to five. On the other hand, a scale of A to F applies in USA for all students. Moreover, the stages of education are equally different between the two nations. The stages of education in both countries also vary. The education system in USA entails preschool, elementary/middle/high school associate, bachelors, masters, and doctorate degrees (U.S. Network for Education Information, 2001). On the contrary, the education system in Saudi Arabia entails primary, secondary, and higher education (Sedgwick, 2008). Uniquely, students in Saudi Arabia put on a special uniform while there are no uniforms in American education system. Because of these differences in education, the literacy levels are equally different. While literacy level in Saudi Arabia approximates at 84.7% for men and 70.8% for women, USA records a literacy level of about 99% for both men and women (Central Intelligence Agency, 2007). The aspect of social behavior is another that relates to both Americans and Saudi Arabians. Indeed, Americans and Saudi Arabians originate from two different traditions and customs. Thus, the social behavior in America is different from that of Saudi Arabians. In America, all religions have a place although Christianity is dominant. Nevertheless, Saudi Arabians tag their social rules and behavior to the Islamic religion and hence bound by sharia law. On the other hand, since Americans are not religion-bound, they rely on development and freedom to interact. The differences in social behavior reflect in collectivism, avoidance to uncertainty, and levels of power distance between the two nations. Indeed, it is quite clear that individuals in Saudi Arabia vary collectivism while Americans value individualism. While American people seek to do their businesses alone for self-gain, Saudi Arabians prefer doing group work in various fronts. Ideally, the Saudi Arabians seek to help one another and work together for the good of all unlike Americans who seek to satisfy their self-interests. In America, individual needs presides society needs while in Saudi Arabia the needs of the group are supreme. Moreover, Saudi Arabians have higher power distance than the Americans. Indeed, in following the sharia law, men in Saudi Arabia are the supreme authority and makes final decisions without consulting their wives. On the other hand, a Saudi Arabian woman must consult the man at all times unlike the Americans who uphold the freedom of expression and respects everybody’s opinion. Indeed, in America, men and women consult one another prior to making important decisions. This notion equally reflects in the working environment where a Saudi Arabia expects the boss to make all decisions while an American boss consults all employees into arriving at a decision affecting them. Another social behavior that is relevant in this context is the relationships between different generations. In America, the old and young have very weak relationships where they rarely share anything. On the other hand, the Saudi Arabians manifest strong relationships between the young and the old where they respect them and listen to their advice. Indeed, Saudi Arabians upholds the buffer of the hierarchy while Americans rely on their freedom to reach major decisions. This explains the high power distance in Saudi Arabia than in American. In addition, the Saudi Arabians seek to avoid the uncertainties while Americans believe in taking risks. Hence, Saudi Arabians are close-minded while the Americans are open minded in matters relating to uncertainties. Similarly, it is quite clear that Saudi Arabians are more emotions than the Americans are. Indeed, the Saudis value good relationships and emotions at the work place while Americans values work itself in the workplace. At the same time, Saudi Arabians rely on set rules especially the sharia law to do their work while Americans advocate for greater freedom and less rules to do a perfect job. Politics and Government is another aspect that we can consider in relating Saudi Arabia and America. It is arguably true that America and Saudi Arabia share similar political aims and ideologies. Both countries seek to establish mutual relationships as they form part of the powerful nations in the world. Actually, they both advocate for fight against terrorism, regional stability and a streamlined global oil market (Gause, 2012). However, they exhibit various political differences. While America uphold the spirit of democracy where it allows anybody to seek political leadership, Saudi Arabia upholds Oligarchy that only allows a few people to rule (Raphaeli, 2003). America stands out as the most democratic nation in the world while Saudi Arabia seemingly opposes democracy. The political leadership is equally different where a president rules in America while a king rules in Saudi Arabia. Indeed, America forms a federal government while Saudi Arabia forms a monarchical government. The USA president heads the American executive while the king of Saudi Arabia head the monarchy, two Holy mosques, and the house of (Saud Raphaeli, 2003). Nevertheless, the king and the president head the military in both countries. In addition, while the religious leaders and the words of the Quran guides the Saudi Arabian political leader, the American constitution and the cabinet guides the American political leader. In fact, the legislation of America is in its constitution while the legislation of Saudi Arabia is the sharia law. Worth noting is the fact that the American political system allows for expression of dissatisfaction with the political leadership while on the contrary Saudi Arabian political system offers no room to express dissatisfaction and thus the revolutions and opposition in Saudi Arabia. Uniquely, American political system accommodates only two political parties that include the Democrats and the Republicans (Brooks, 2009). Moreover, for one to become a political leader you must subscribe to either of the two political parties. On the contrary, politics in Saudi Arabia revolve around the royal family and religious leaders (Raphaeli, 2003). As such, political parties do not exist in Saudi Arabia though the opposition seeks to introduce one in a revolt to the monarch. Voting in the American political system takes place after every four years while in Saudi Arabia there is no voting as leadership is in a monarch where inheritance of political power is supreme. Furthermore, where accountability and ethical values are absolute in the American political system, allegations of corruption and other malpractices are rampant in the Saudi government and in the royal family. Most significantly, the American political system includes the president, vice president, congress, and senators (Brooks, 2009). The Saudi Arabian political system includes the king, prince, royal family, and the religious leaders. References Brooks, S. (2009). Understanding American Politics. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. Central Intelligence Agency. (2007). Literacy. Retrieved from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2103.html Gause, G. (2012). Saudi Arabia in the New Middle East. Retrieved from http://www.cfr.org/saudi-arabia/saudi-arabia-new-middle-east/p26663 Raphaeli, N. (2003). Saudi Arabia: A Brief Guide to Its Politics and Problems. Middle East Review of International Affairs Journal. Volume 7(3). Sedgwick, R. (2008). Education in Saudi Arabia. Retrieved from http://www.wes.org/ewenr/01nov/practical.htm U.S. Network for Education Information. (2001). United States of America - Education system. Retrieved from http://www.globaled.us/wwcu/background/United-States.htm Read More