The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has faced criticism from the world community for perceived human rights violations. At the same time, the United States imports one million barrels of oil from the Kingdom every day, and provides protective and military services there. The current research focuses on conditions for women in Saudi Arabia as well as the importance of a working economic relationship between the US and Saudi Arabia and American public opinion on the topic.
Literature was collected to explore the topic of human rights- what they are and when people really have them. Research was also studied about the circumstances that women in Saudi Arabia are subjected to daily and the effects that these circumstances have on women's social capital and ability to flourish, especially in regard to education. A third factor considered when the literature was chosen was US-Saudi relations, with an emphasis on how much is at stake in the relationship, and how US interaction with Saudi Arabia might benefit those who traditionally suffer in the current conditions of the Kingdom.
It was found that human rights may best be measured by their enjoyment, not through the traditional measurement of enacted laws and policies. Studies conducted in Saudi Arabia show that women in that nation do not enjoy basic human rights as defined by the United Nations, as well as by the traditional American value system. The studies reviewed also reveal that the US cutting ties with Saudi Arabia will be a difficult task at best, and may even be detrimental to the well-being of that nation's marginalized groups. Further study is needed to determine if American public opinion points to a desire for the US to separate itself from Saudi Arabia due to differing policies regarding human rights. The current research aimed to gauge American public opinion on US-Saudi relations to determine if there exists the desire to cut ties with Saudi Arabia on human rights grounds.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Abstract
3. Literature Review
4. Method
5. Results
6. Discussion
7. Limitations
8. Future Research
Research Objectives and Topics
This research aims to investigate the complex relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia, specifically focusing on how American public opinion perceives human rights conditions for women within the Kingdom and whether these perceptions influence support for the ongoing diplomatic and economic ties between the two nations.
- Human rights status of women in Saudi Arabia under Sharia Law
- The economic and strategic importance of US-Saudi relations
- American public awareness of social conditions for Saudi women
- Correlation between general human rights values and foreign policy attitudes
Excerpt from the Book
Defining Human Rights
In order to determine if one's human rights are being violated, it must be determined what human rights are and when they are truly present. Traditionally, human rights have been measured simply by the presence of legislation that guarantees these rights, such as freedom from discrimination, freedom from torture, etc. Ackerly and Cruz (2011) formed a different approach to defining the presence of human rights. Relying on the Latin American Public Opinion Project survey database, they took a structural view: human rights through the lens of enabling social conditions that allow for human rights enjoyment. This means looking at individuals' unique definitions of what rights are relevant to them, whether they are able to enjoy these rights in community with others in their culture, and if they are able to enjoy their rights in an integrated way. This measures an individual's rights enjoyment on the whole, instead of focusing on one specific right at a time. The study found that the enjoyment of human rights is more closely related to political and social attitudes and behaviors than to variables relating to torture or repression.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides context on the US-Saudi relationship and the restrictive social conditions women face in Saudi Arabia under Sharia Law.
Abstract: Summarizes the study’s focus on women's human rights, economic ties, and the necessity of gauging public opinion on potential policy shifts.
Literature Review: Explores definitions of human rights, existing research on the status of Saudi women, the impact of education, and the strategic dynamics of the US-Saudi alliance.
Method: Details the cross-sectional survey design used to assess undergraduate students' perspectives on human rights and their awareness of conditions in Saudi Arabia.
Results: Presents the demographic profile of the participants and the statistical analysis of their responses regarding human rights and foreign policy.
Discussion: Interprets the findings, noting that while participants support women's rights, there is a general lack of detailed awareness regarding the specific scope of the US-Saudi relationship.
Limitations: Acknowledges the constraints of the study, specifically the small, non-representative sample size and the potential for ambiguity in survey phrasing.
Future Research: Suggests the necessity of qualitative interviews and broader, more representative demographic sampling to better understand American perspectives on this issue.
Keywords
Human Rights, Saudi Arabia, US-Saudi Relations, Women's Rights, Sharia Law, Foreign Policy, Public Opinion, Gender Segregation, Economic Dependence, Social Conditions, Foreign Aid, Diplomacy, Academic Research, Survey Methodology, Political Science.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The research examines the intersection of human rights, the socio-political situation for women in Saudi Arabia, and the diplomatic relationship between the US and Saudi Arabia.
What are the primary thematic areas?
The study centers on women's rights in Saudi society, the role of education and traditional law, the strategic importance of oil and military cooperation, and the awareness levels of the American public.
What is the main research objective?
The objective is to determine if American citizens believe that the treatment of women in Saudi Arabia constitutes a human rights violation and if this awareness—or lack thereof—impacts their support for the US-Saudi alliance.
Which methodology was employed for this study?
The author utilized a cross-sectional survey design, collecting quantitative data through questionnaires administered to undergraduate students at Carlow University.
What is covered in the main body of the work?
The main body integrates a literature review regarding human rights theories and gender issues in the Kingdom with a descriptive and bivariate analysis of survey results concerning student attitudes.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Human Rights, Saudi Arabia, US-Saudi Relations, Women's Rights, and Public Opinion.
How does religious law affect the perception of rights in the study?
The study highlights that while the Saudi authorities interpret Sharia Law to limit women's autonomy, respondents in the survey generally rejected the idea that religious law should excuse human rights violations.
What specific finding emerged regarding education?
The literature reviewed suggests that low levels of education serve as a significant risk factor for women in Saudi Arabia, impacting their ability to access employment, support themselves, and advocate for their own rights.
Why did the author suggest that the research results are limited?
The author noted that the small, convenience-based sample size of undergraduate students at a single university limits the ability to generalize the findings to the broader American population.
- Quote paper
- Leah Propst (Author), 2014, Women's Human Rights in Saudi Arabia and U.S.-Saudi Relations, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/351119
