Three Major Comparisons in the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia - Report Example

A COMPARISON OF FREEDOM AND RESTRICTION BETWEEN UK AND SAUDI ARABIA Freedom entails the chance and the ability to choose, which is quantifiable by lack of restrictions in varied aspects of the society economically, socially, politically and culturally. The opportunity to choose is founded on having the options and alternatives to choose from (U.N. 2011). Primarily, the concept of freedom extends beyond the perception of material wealth, division of labour and variety in culture while the chance to choose relies on the absence of restriction. Therefore, freedom encompasses liberty from restrictive regulations and impediments and equality among society members regardless of their social status, race, age, gender, language, religion, colour, political affiliation, nationality, cultural beliefs, jurisdiction, health status, academic status, territory and ethnicity among other variables. Thus, the aim of this article is to compare freedom and restriction between UK and Saudi Arabia. As indicated by the Universal declaration of Human Rights, every human being is born equal and free in dignity and in rights and are guided by reason and conscience to ensure each individual is equal and free (U.N. 2011). Achieving freedom economically entails the absence of constraints on free trade, which includes excessive taxing, while political freedom being the absence of constraints on political and civil liberties that encompasses democracy, national independence, decentralization of power, free media, freedom to assemble, social justice, liberty to associate and personal freedoms among others. The freedom and restrictions experienced in the United Kingdom and that experienced in Saudi Arabia contrast more than it compares owing the difference in culture, political structures, economic autonomy, social and religious principles practiced in these two nations. Based on a paper written by Veenhoven on freedom and happiness, Saudi Arabia and Cuba scored the minimum of index 2, whereas all western nations, inclusive of UK, scored the maximum of 14 on the political index (Veenhoven, 2008). This indicates that UK has more freedom politically compared to Saudi Arabia, which signify that there are more political restrictions in Saudi Arabia. According to Veenhoven, the relationship between political freedom and economic freedom is very strong an illustration of higher political and economic autonomy in UK than in Saudi Arabia. Political freedom and economic liberty in Saudi Arabia is restricted as the type of political leadership used is authoritarian, which makes it even harder for economic freedom, which is perceived as an entity of the Western states meant to steal or par take the wealth in the East such as oil (Veenhoven, 2008). The misconception on the true value of freedom in every aspects of the society in Saudi Arabia is lost to the leadership. This does not mean there is no political and economic freedom in Saudi Arabia, it only means the level of political and economic freedoms is meagre and restrictions are many compared to high levels of political freedom and economic freedom and low restrictions in the United Kingdom. In relation to the freedom of speech, the UK is integrated into the European Convention, which ensures freedom of expression in the country. UK presents a special case among Western countries as it has specific restrictions on freedom of expression, which upholds laws on offences of incitement to racial hatred, defamation and incitement to religious hatred (Veenhoven, 2008). This compares with the freedom of expression in Saudi where it is illegal to make blasphemous statements against Islam. Be it as it may, freedom of speech in Saudi Arabia is limited through imposed government censorships. For instance, the media in Saudi Arabia is under strict restrictions on what and what not to report to the public with Saudi media being under scrutiny and supervision by the government. Contrary, the media in UK has more autonomy on the news they cover and report as long as they adhere to set media, local, international professional code of ethics. The fact that Saudi Arabia is under the Islamic law unlike the United Kingdom, it becomes difficult for Saudi to impose similar laws of freedom as those imposed by the United Kingdom and also in regards to complying with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Veenhoven, 2008). The male gender has fewer restrictions on freedom on varied issues compared to their female counterparts in Saudi Arabia, which contradicts the scenario in UK where the freedom and restrictions of both male and females are equal. Compared to UK, Saudi has less protection of majority of basic human rights, more restrictions on freedom of association, speech and expression and punishment. The freedom of worship in UK is upheld regardless of religion, which contradicts the scenario in Saudi where public practice and proselytisation is prohibited. A comparison of health between UK and Saudi Arabia Health is a universal concern, with every global economy investing millions if not billions of dollars to ensure quality health for its populations. It is common knowledge that a healthy nation is a prosperous nation with health playing a significant role on the economy through supply of labour and availing sufficient resources for sustainable social and economic developments, which would have otherwise gone to health treatments (Preker, et al., 2010). Despite this reality, not all global economies have been able to efficiently and effectively sustain a healthy population, which is associated with increased population growth rates, poor governance, poor health structures, systems, and unproductive health policies. Healthcare services in Saudi Arabia are funded by the government, with the government allocating substantial amount of resources in Saudi Arabia’s healthcare sector, to ensure availability, affordability, acceptability, accessibility and quality of health for all Saudis and expatriates. Although the UK has a more advanced health care systems compared to Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia has made great progress and has implemented policies and initiatives in ensuring quality health for women, health for children, health in prisons, mental health, health for persons with disabilities, health for expatriates, occupational health and ecological health. This paints a picture of a prospective effective healthcare system in Saudi Arabia. Health in the United Kingdom is characterized by varying health policies and priorities in the four states of England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland, which have initiated variance in healthcare systems in the UK. Just like Saudi Arabia, healthcare for the citizens is funded by the government, which is paid from taxation, with both countries encouraging growth of the private healthcare sector. Health care systems in UK compares with those in Saudi in that their NHS systems utilizes GPs (General Practitioners) to offer basic healthcare to patients and make referrals where required. National Health Services in the United Kingdom, which is operated by the Department of Health, ensures patients acquire quality health care services for free (Preker et al., 2010). As noted by Cecil Nicholas, reshaping and implementing reforms in the National Health Service is not an option for countries that seek to foster effective, efficient, affordable, accessible and quality healthcare to its people (Cecil, 2011). Enforcing reforms in the public healthcare sector in the United Kingdom and in Saudi Arabia are critical for both, with enhanced development and implementation of health care reform policies and laws as suggested by (Cecil, 2011). In both countries, private health care sector is small compared to the public health care sector, which collaborates with health insurance providers to fund healthcare provision. In addition, the private health care sector in the United Kingdom and in Saudi Arabia is more charged with not only offering primary care, but also secondary care, which involves provision of specialized health treatment and services which range from cosmetic surgeries, rehabilitation services, treatment of addiction, care for the elderly and mental health treatment among others (Preker, et al., 2010). Abortion, which is a controversial health issue globally, is legal in the United Kingdom and prohibited in Saudi Arabia unless the life of the mother is at risk. Conclusively, Saudi Arabia although it has a long way to go in achieving the set health care goals and outcomes to ensure acceptability, accessibility, availability, affordability and quality of health care to its citizens and expatriates, the health policy reforms developed and implemented are bound to ensure the health objectives set are acquired. On the other hand, health in the United Kingdom although enhanced still require further reforms and change in the National Health Services (Cecil, 2011). A comparison of youth culture between UK and Saudi Arabia The youth culture in Saudi Arabia differs greatly with the youth culture in the United Kingdom or other western countries (American, 2011). The youth culture in Saudi Arabia is founded on Islamic and Arabic setting. The youth culture in Saudi Arabia is grounded on Islamic values and principles with youths in the country expected to adhere to the Sharia Law used in the land. This means that entertainment preferred by youths elsewhere such as taking alcoholic beverages, is not for them. The youths are expected to not only adhere to their values and principles, but also, to do it regardless of lack of supervision. In relation to entertainment, youths are prohibited from accessing movies, music, magazines and books that violate their moral values. This contrasts with the youth culture in UK where young people have the autonomy to listen to any music and watch any movies so long as the music and movies are rated. Young people are allowed to take alcohol after they have attained their legal age. In regards to the way youths dress in Saudi Arabia, they are supposed to adhere strictly to the principles of hijab for the girl child and a thawb with keffiyeh and a ghutra for the young men (American, 2011). This contrasts with the dressing code in the United Kingdom where the youth culture there allow the youth both male and female to wear as they wish without having to adhere to set dress codes. More youths in the United Kingdom are equipped and empowered academically with access to quality education compared to their counterparts in Saudi Arabia. Nevertheless, the government of Saudi Arabia is realizing the importance of having an academically equipped youth and is therefore investing hugely in education for its Saudi Youths. Based on article by American Bedu, the choice for social activities for youths in Saudi Arabia relies greatly on their location, gender and viewpoint of their family. Youths in Saudi and UK are accessible to sporting activities (American, 2011). Although the leisure activities and social activities in Saudi differ from those in UK, the youths in either country are wholly satisfied with their youth culture. Important to note is that, just because something is different in another culture, it does not qualify it as right or wrong. Summary The report has comprehensively analyzed and discussed three major comparisons in the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia, which are freedom and restrictions, health and youth culture. In regards to freedom and restrictions, Saudi Arabia has low level of freedom economically, politically and socially and more restrictions compared to the level of freedom and restrictions in the UK. On the other hand, health care systems in both countries are mainly funded by the government while the growing private healthcare sector is charged with providing services that are more specialized. The youth culture in Saudi Arabia is embedded in Islamic laws and values while that in UK is characterized by the freedom to choose. Important to understand however, is that the difference in the youth culture does not mean one is superior or inferior. References American, B. 2011. Saudi Arabia: What do the Teens do? Accessed from http://americanbedu.com/2011/02/05/saudi-arabia-what-do-the-teens-do/. Retrieved on 16th July 2011. Cecil, N. 2011. Letter ‘shows pause on NHS reform is stunt.’ Accessed from http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23942461-letter-shows-pause-on-nhs-reform-is-stunt.do. Retrieved on 16th July 2011. Preker, A.S., Zweifel, P., & Schellekens, O.P. 2010. Global marketplace for private health insurance: strength in numbers. New York: World Bank Publications. U.N. 2011. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Accessed from http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml. Retrieved on 16th July 2011. Veenhoven, R. 2008. Freedom and happiness: comparison of 126 nations in 2006. Rotterdam: Erasmus University. Read More