Fundamental Structures of the Saudi Arabian Civil Society - Essay Example

An overview of work already done Approximately 500 words The essence of this study is to identify the fundamental structures of the Saudi Arabian civil society and how it has evolved over the past 80 years. Evidence indicates that Saudi Arabia is inherently built on the core principles of Sunni Islam . Some authors identify that the fountain of authority in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia comes with an inseparable connection to the title of the king which is the “custodian of the two holiest mosques of Islam” . This shows that the history, traditions and roles in the civil society are subject to the sovereign authority of the state which is inherently Islamic in nature. However, after the discovery of vast reserves of petroleum in Saudi Arabia, the country has been a central focus of globalisation, internationalisation and modernisation . This has caused the Basic Law of the country, which is steeped in Sharia to be re-examined and reviewed in order to streamline Saudi Arabia’s laws with the international order. This study has identified in the preliminary analysis that the religious and political leadership have shaped the modern history of Saudi Arabia which has in turn influenced the traditions of the Kingdom. The literature review identifies that the international order of the international community is strongly steeped in the Eurocentric theories and concepts of statehood. This study will seek the end of identifying the variance and similarities between the Western view of civil society and the current Saudi civil society systems and structures. This is because preliminary readings show that there are various variances and limitations in the way and manner through which the two different civil society structures are organized. This is because literature identifies that Saudi Arabia’s political and religious institutions are authoritarian in nature. This is not the same as what exists in the Western world. Thus, the dissertation will focus on the articulation of a new construct that will define a new and completely different set of actionable proposals and principles that can be implemented by public policymakers and key stakeholders in the civic society. The recommendations will be based on the findings and empirical analysis of various approaches used in other parts of the world to attain convergence between local and international civil society groups. The aim of the study is to examine Saudi Arabia’s civil society in the context of international political theory over the past century. In order to attain this end, the following objectives will be explored: 1. A critical analysis of the emergence and advances in the Saudi civil society in the absolute sense and in a relativist sense, based on the international context; 2. An evaluation of the nature and context within which the Saudi political framework is ran and the influence of the civil society on socio-political change; 3. A synthesis of evidence about the relative success of civil society as a change agent in Saudi Arabia 4. An assessment of the areas of concerns and limitations and how it has contributed to the shortcomings of the Saudi civil society. Statement of intended future work Approximately 500 words This study will involve a critical review of literature and the gathering of data through primary research activities. This will fundamentally focus on utilising a qualitative system of gathering and analysing information. In the transfer from the Masters in Philosophy level to the Doctorate level of this study, a number of fieldwork already completed will be retained whilst some aspects will be enhanced. The work done so far was done according to elements and aspects of the second degree requirements. However, this transfer will seek to upgrade the work and make it more advanced. Thus, in the coming year, there will be some important changes to be made to the research approach and activity log. 1. Continuation of the field work: The study will continue with more thorough and in-depth interviews and data collection in Saudi Arabia. This will include the expansion of the population base to include various elements of the Saudi political and civil society community in order to gain a broad scope of knowledge about the subject under review. The fieldwork will now focus on two major cities in Saudi Arabia, Jeddah and Riyadh in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 2. The current methodology will be modified and changed in order to fit the demands and expectations of the work’s scope. This will however need to be done after a cautious review and analysis of different elements and aspects of the research. This will be done against the background of discussions with the supervisor on the methods, tools and ethical considerations; 3. There will also be the need for a thorough analysis of the findings of the fieldwork that will be gathered in Saudi Arabia. This will include the analysis of the interviews and the findings through an appropriate method that will be decided on consultation with the supervisor; 4. In the coming year, it is expected that the research will include the write-up of preliminary findings as a means of preparation for submissions. This will culminate in the presentation of core findings and views that will be necessary to enable the study to be done in a way and manner that will promote the presentation of a logical set of findings and views. Thus, the year will focus on cutting down the work and maintaining focus on important and relevant aspects of the study as directed by the supervisors of the project. Statement of how your research will contribute to original knowledge Approximately 500 words The king of Saudi Arabia announced that Saudi Arabia cannot remain static whilst the world changes . This is based on the backdrop of the pressures yielded by the members of the international community and the world at large to get Saudi Arabia to relax its systems and processes. In line with this promise, there is an opportunity for this study to be used as a means of creating a scientific and empirical report that can lay the foundation for the conduct of reforms in the country and retaining the best results in modernizing Saudi Arabia. This study will seek to analyse the limitations placed on humanitarian organizations and other members of the humanitarian and civil society groups that seek to promote comprehensive and sustainable development and social changes in the society. This study will also seek to reconcile different assumptions and theories in order to draw conclusions on how citizen awareness and human rights can be promoted in Saudi Arabia. The process will involve the identification of important limit and other problems that are posed by them. This will culminate in the examination of important elements that are institutionalised in the country’s culture and systems and how these processes inform current practice that limits the demand for democratic processes in the Saudi civil society. The theorization will therefore focus on three main issues. The first theoretical framework will include the identification of absolute structures and processes in the Saudi political and religious systems that give rise to the challenges of the modern civil society structure. This will be done in the absolute and relativist sense. It will culminate in the presentation of the issues and challenges faced by these civil society groups and how Saudi Arabia is not changing like other countries around the world. The second theory will border around the causes of the challenges in conducting reforms in Saudi Arabia. This will include the presentation of the realities as they are and how they stand in the way of the civil society of the kingdom. Finally, the empirical findings will give room for the presentation of recommendations on how to improve the existing processes and systems for the conduct of various activities. This will include the presentation of better approaches and ways of improving the existing dichotomy. In conclusion, it can be stated that this research will seek to provide an empirical and acceptable stream of knowledge that will act as a catalyst for the impending change in Saudi Arabia. This will include the presentation of a pathway that will be appropriate for the existing civil society system and structures to be streamlined within the existing context of realities. Time plan to show timely completion In the coming year, I will spend the first month organizing activities and work on the dissertation. Afterwards, I will restructure the methodology for a two month period and then conduct fieldwork for a three-month period. The critical reviews I will get in the process will form the basis for the restructuring of the research again, which should take another month. With that in the background, I will attend a series of workshops and events over the period and do some fieldwork along the sides. Finally, I will commence the write-up of the project. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Preliminary Organization Restructuring of Methodology Fieldwork Viva Transfer Authorization Restructuring of Methodology Seminars and Workshops Fieldwork Commencement of Write Up An itemised statement of your University induction, development and training activities as well as attendance at any external workshops, conferences and similar events After doing basic research and building the fundamental structures for my studies, I have gained some skills and competencies that can further be improved and enhanced to make me a better researcher. This includes the different approaches and systems of gathering and analysing information in the advanced levels of research and studies. Last year, I was able to attend a lot of workshops and conferences organized by the University for its Research students. However, this year, due to a passport renewing that restricted my mobilization, I might have to be a little more constructive in my approach to these events and activities. I might have to utilize a teleconferencing approach to my participation in this year until I have my passport renewed to be coming to the UK. And in that case, I intend to participate in all events that can be connected to me whilst I am in Saudi Arabia. One of the elements of skill development is to attend more seminars and conferences that relate to important competencies and skills necessary to enable me to understand the Saudi socio-political and religious system. Thus, in comparison with the previous year, I will focus more on the technical aspects of my research, rather than the general theoretical framework of the study. Therefore, I will concentrate more on attending conferences and events organized around the world that critiques the Saudi context of civil society interactions and discussions. I will need to visit important events that represent the changes in the Arab world. Also, other events related to related countries like Turkey will be conducted. This will help me to narrow up my scope of study in order to gain more insight and knowledge into the main elements and features of Saudi Arabia and how the country has been seeking to blend its conservative systems and structures with the changes in the wider world. Read More