Social Challenges Facing Communities Country and the Region - Research Paper Example

Case Study: Social Challenges Facing Communities Country and the Region Case Study: Social Challenges Facing Communities Country and the Region Introduction Modern communities are facing different social challenges due to the changing global trends. The setbacks can be caused by political, social and economic factors. Consequently, social sciences have been used to comprehend most of the challenges through researches and data collection methods from various communities (Goertz, 2006). Research Methods A number of study methodologies can be used to gather sociological information from the communities of choice. The research includes methods that have direct contact with the affected social organizations. Qualitative research will ensure that there is quality information on the meaning, beliefs and experience of the social changes. A quantitative research will also be included to provide a substantial amount of data on the social challenges. Literature review will be based on primary secondary sources such as books and articles from journals (Kizza, 2010). Social scientists have already carried out research in social sciences with the aim of understanding some of the challenges. However, the changing trends will require new research and background information to social theories that will be used as references for the study. Focus groups will be used as preliminary research techniques in the gathering of information. It includes the study of people’s social lifestyles, attitude, and ideas based on various social variables. The technique will be used to comprehend more information on crime and violence that has already been highlighted by the focus groups. Personal interviews will provide information on private issues that affect the social structure. For example, variables such as racism, ethnicity, and gender inequality may be hard to obtain from focus groups. They need direct interviews on the population of the study due to the privacy factor of the matter. Individual may be restricted by culture and social beliefs to share private information. They will be presented in the form of questionnaires and personal interviews. Data collection tools will include mobile phone and email surveys, which will be used to collect data from societies in other geographical locations. The research will provide information on variables such as race, ethnicity, and globalization among others. The method is ideal for large samples such as those used in social sciences. Detailed and open-ended questions should be adopted while collecting the data. The approach will ensure a quantitative research that will present sufficient data for analysis. The data analysis procedure will be based on the variables of research. Response from the different interviewees should be categorized and used in understanding social changes and challenges. The final data should not be biased to ensure that the results are authentic. Descriptive statics will make sure that the data is detailed and open for comments and recommendations based on other similar researches. Finally, deductive and inductive reasoning will be used to come up with conclusions on some of the highlighted factors. Background Information There are various social challenges in the U.A.E that affect individual lifestyles. The country has been undergoing social changes in the past few years leading to both negative and positive impacts. Since social change is a multi-dimension process, scholars and elites in the U.A.E are focused in issuing modernization on the basis of social and intercultural understanding and peace (Goertz, 2006). The country has had strong cultural and social ties leading to a slow change in the implementation the social changes. However, various factors have led to the increase in social challenges in the country and other global communities. According to Max Webber and his ideas, production factors have direct impacts on the social, economic, and political progress of a country. As a result, the country has advanced its production mode from semi-feudalism to modern capitalism. U.A.E’s reliance on natural resources has caused certain challenges in the social and political structures of the country. There are certain families or cultures that control most of the wealth leading to inequality in the country. The presence of resources also contributes to some of the social setbacks such as crime, ethnicity, political and cultural issues. Description of the Social Sciences Practices and Attributes That Will Help In Understanding Personal, Community, and the World Views Social sciences practices have helped in the enlightenment age where they have caused awareness on various issues that affect the society (Kizza, 2010). The variables occur due to a variety of trends that are caused by external factors that include legal, political, economic, cultural and personal perspectives. They include the following: Gender inequality and sexual orientation There has been in increase in cases of gender inequality in the Middle East countries. The equality of opportunity has not been exercised in the country; hence, leading to imbalanced developed in individual capacities. There is the presence of a male guardianship culture that deprives women some of their rights. For example, the research provided information on cases where women have to receive permission from the male guardians in order to remarry. Remarkably, the majority of the females are unsatisfied with the custodian laws since they are not free to perform any personal choices freely. Women have been provided with fewer chances in education due to their gender nature. There is the lack of encouragement from the government and other organizations due to the cultural and social ties. Most cultures restrict women from enrolling in further education and prefer male students in the family. Conseuently, there has been a decrease in the women workforce in Emirates economy. Additionally, the females that secure job also undergo inequality at the workplaces. The culture in the U.A.E includes one where the communal interests override individual choices. The family is considered as the building block of the society, and the children have to follow the cultures to avoid rejection. The allocation of roles has also contributed to the gender inequality in the country. For example, males are issued responsibility to cater for both the nuclear and extended families; hence, leading to more attention of the male gender. Crime and violence They are social challenges in both developing and developed societies. The factors have been identified as issues in the research due to various causes. In the U.A.E, there are cases of violence despite the harsh Sharia laws. The cultural and family background of the political and economic structures has caused the challenges. For example, the wealthy families that are also part of the political structures control most of the resources. Moreover, the modes of production the country also create social class structures. As a result, there has been social stratification where most of the population is part lower class. The lack of basic needs and employment in these lower classes leads to the influx social ills such as crime and violence. The robbers target the immigrants and tourists in order to prevent legal repercussions by the locals. Unemployment A social setback has contributed to other related challenges in the society. Socialism relies on the government planning based on the bureaucrats and other officials. The government structure affects a countrys mode of production that also has impacts on the employment levels. Capitalist governments involve competition that leads to the increase in organizations and businesses reflecting high levels of employment. A decrease the number of skilled workers has contributed to importation of labor and the outsourcing of various activities. Educational statistics shows that there has been a decrease in the number of males in classes due to various social factors. Consequently, the government prefers to import experts in its infrastructure projects. Globalization Advancements in technology have led to enhanced communication and transport channeled leading to social integration (Maynard, 2011).Subsequently, the number of immigrants in the U.A.E. and other countries has increased significantly. Additionally, the work opportunities have also attracted various skilled workers from foreign countries. The integration has led to the introduction of the Western culture in the Middle East countries. Globalization has been a challenge to the society due to the introduction of new ideologies, beliefs, and morals that are not similar to those of the locals. Multiculturalism leads to the acknowledgment of multiple cultures and subcultures. It has been criticized for the initiation of foreign cultural components such as the values, symbols, religion, beliefs, sanctions, and artifacts. Functionalism and materialism are some of the principles of the U.A.E culture that has been affected by multiculturalism. Summary of Findings Despite the governments involvement to prevent social setbacks in individual countries, the research has provided in-depth data on the presence of some of the consistent issues. Gender inequality is still present in some of the countries due to cultural and legal loopholes (Maynard, 2011). Modernization and globalization should be adopted by these cultures to promote gender equality. It may be implemented through the establishment of non-governmental organizations, labor unions and movements by the female gender to cause awareness in the society. The production ideology in the chosen country has a direct effect on the number of social challenges (Weber, 2011). Capitalism gives rise to social stratification that cause changes in ideologies among the individuals. Consequently, the government should be involved in some of the economic activities to regulate and monitor the distribution of wealth leading to equality in the society. Employment opportunities should also be created through various government policies. Consequently, there will be a decrease in some of the setbacks such as illiteracy, poverty and violence in the society. Finally, globalization trends should also be monitored to make sure that cultural influences are controlled. It will prevent the adoption of foreign offensive foreign cultures. Conclusion Both positivist and negativist social scientists have employed various research methods in order to understand different societies (Maynard, 2011). Their results and findings have been used to come up with solutions to most of the social challenges. However, all principles including political science, sociology, and psychology have to be included in the study in order to come up with detailed results in all social aspects. References Goertz, G. (2006). Social science concepts: A users guide. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Kizza, J. (2010). Ethical and social issues in the information age (4th ed.). London: Springer. Maynard, D. (2011). Underemployment psychological, economic, and social challenges. New York: Springer. Weber, M. (2011). Methodology of social sciences. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction. Read More