Abstract
The paper demonstrates how the traditional foods in Saudi Arabia depict the culture of the Saudi Arabian people. The paper focuses on three major influences on Saudi Arabia cooking: the ancient Arabian dominance of the spice paths, the nomadic Bedouin traits, and the food restrictions as given in the Quran. The paper describes the culture of hospitality and the range of popular dishes commonly served by the people.

From the Paper
"The very old Arabian culture of hospitality that developed has really not changed much until the present time. In Saudi Arabia how well somebody treats his/her guests is a direct confirmation of the kind of person she or he is. It is a common practice to give an allowance for an extra portion while doing the cooking of a meal. This is usually in order to ready in case of an unexpected visitor. When a meal is over, there ought to be always a good portion of meal left over otherwise it may be taken to mean that the guests had not been fully satisfied with the cooking style. I wish to add here that this is identical to some African cultures which also considers food as uniting factor. To a Saudi Arabian native, entertaining is quite joyous and is considered an opportunity and honor if guests are persuaded to remain for yet another meal time. The guests are expected respond with gifts as a sign of appreciation for the host (Safer Kahtani and Dean Schreiner 6).
"According to the Qu'uran, pork is considered as an impure and that animal blood is quite polluting. Equally alcohol is strictly forbidden by the book. This is the reasons why bars are quite rare in Saudi Arabia. Actually alcohol is forbidden and as result there exists severe penalties for breaking that law. It should be noted that, for those wishing to tour Saudi Arabia, this law applies to all nationals irrespective of religion. The Arabic fruit drinks and coffee are the popular alternatives."

Tags:alcohol, Quran, Bedouins, spices, coffee

Abstract
The paper provides an overview of Kuwait, a description of its physiographic and cultural landscape, and a look at its population trends. An analysis of current and future economic development projects is following by a discussion of major current events. The paper includes an annotated works cited page.

Outline:
Kuwait: On the Country
Physiographic Landscape
Cultural Landscape
Population Trends
Economic Development
Major Current Events

From the Paper
"Kuwait is a desert nation, with "intensely hot summers; short, cool winters [and a terrain that is] flat to slightly undulating desert plain" (Kuwait 8). Less than one percent of Kuwait's lands are arable, and permanent crops occupy just 0.17 percent of the landscape (Kuwait 8). In addition, Kuwait is a relatively small country at 17,820 square kilometers (rank 164th in the world and slightly smaller than New Jersey), all of which is land (Kuwait 8). A concise description of the country physiographic landscape is also provided by the country's official Web site thusly: "Located in the north-east corner of the Arabian Peninsula, Kuwait is one of the smallest countries in the world in terms of land area. The flat, sandy Arabian Desert covers most of Kuwait. Kuwait is the only country in the world which has no natural lake or water reservoir. There is little difference in the country's altitude with the highest point in the country being 306 m above sea-level" (Kuwait Geography 2009:3).
"In several ways, the cultural landscape of Kuwait resembles that of many of its neighbors in the region in being "fragile and largely authoritarian regardless of the formal structure of the government. In broad terms, Kuwait has not managed to create a secular political culture that provides effective pluralism"(Cordesman 108). Even though one-third of the Kuwaiti population (2,691,158) is comprised of non-nationals (1,291,354), the country is still overwhelmingly Muslim at 85 percent (Kuwait 4, 6)."

Tags:Middle, East, oil, demographics

Abstract
The paper discusses how in America, many different social programs are in place to assist victims of domestic violence, since it is no longer something that is considered a family issue but it is a criminal justice problem. The paper looks at Iran and the abuse of women by the political system and the religion of the country, and describes how women are considered nothing more than property of their husbands or males in their lives. The paper then looks at Brazil where abuse against women is actually illegal but the country's culture allows these crimes to be tolerated by the police and the courts.

From the Paper
"Domestic violence in America is extremely prevalent even with the many changes that occurred in society concerning the rights of the domestic abuse victim, the response of the police and legislation penalizing this crime. In the past the domestic abuse victim received little or no aid from governmental officials and the police response was insufficient. While the issue of domestic abuse came to light in the Woman's movement of the 1970's governmental response was insufficient until the plights of these battered women was brought to the attention of society in the 1990's.
"By the 1990s, the law enforcement community started to view Domestic Violence as the serious problem that it really is and police protocol changed and arrest became "the preferred response" to Domestic Violence calls (Esfandiari, 2003). Instead of the police being afforded broad discretion in what to do in cases of domestic violence they must now arrest the abusers and in some states a dual arrest is required if both parties engage in the violence. Instead of ignoring the problem a new culture of punishing the offender and protecting the victim has emerged.
"In America many different social programs are in place to assist victims and domestic violence is no longer something that is considered a family issue and not a criminal justice problem. While this is the view of domestic violence in American culture there are other cultures that have a different view on domestic violence and some that have the same view as the American culture. In countries like Iran domestic abuse is not only accepted but is a routine occurrence while in Brazil the act is illegal but tolerated."

Tags:husbands, chauvinism, offender, victim

Abstract
This paper explores the role of water as the impetus behind conflict in the Middle East. The paper concentrates upon four specific hot spots to illustrate the importance of water which include Arab-Israel, Turkey-Syria-Iraq, Iran-Iraq and Egyptian-Sundani-Ethiopian. First, statistics describing water scarcity in the region are presented. Next, the paper discusses the role and importance of water as a political, economic, and strategic tool. Then, the paper focuses upon four particular scenarios for war in the region in which water is likely to play a major role. These four scenarios illustrate the different ways that war may result over historic disputes for control of local water resources. Finally, the option of desalinization is evaluated as a possible mitigating factor against projected future shortages. The paper concludes by stating that in order to promote peace, the nations of the Middle East should seek research and development efforts to provide the region with drinkable fresh water. Several figures are included in the paper.

The paper recommends the promotion of new technologies to increase the availability of drinkable water within the region.

Outline:

Introduction
Water Scarcity: The Statistics
The Strategic Value of Water in the Middle East
Arab-Israeli Water Disputes

From the Paper
"The growing population increases the demand for water, but this is only part of the problem of population growth. High rates of population growth, particularly in urban, crowded areas, further lessen the availability of water through pollution. "Degrading water quality further reduces the availability of fresh water suitable for domestic and agriculture use and increases the cost of treatment and reuse of water" ("World Bank Water Resource Management" 1). Ground water sources do not follow political or social boundaries. As a result, many of the water sources under contention fall within natural land boundaries between different nation states or they pass across several national boundaries. Countries are not free to develop these resources as they wish because the activities in one nation can have profound impacts upon its neighbors."

Tags:water wars, middle east, water desalination, tigris, euphrates, turkey, iraq, iran

Abstract
The paper discusses how "Orientalism" by Edward Said explores the way that Orientalism is constructed and structured by the Western perspective. The paper points out that there have been numerous positive responses to the work, however, there has also been a great deal of criticism of this book in recent years. The paper asserts that despite these critiques, there is little doubt that his book made a valuable contribution to the way that perceptions and opinions about other cultures are constructed and perpetuated.

From the Paper
"Orientalism by Edward Said is a very influential work and has been the centre of various debates and controversies, particularly with regard to the poststructuralist and post-colonialist philosophical stance. While there are many detractors and critics of this work, the general consensus is that the, through his work, the author has "...single handedly affected a revolution in Middle Eastern studies in the U.S." (Orientalism is alive and well in Iraq)
"The work has however created a great deal of debate and controversy. One of the aspects that have been a cause of debate is the scope of orientalism. In this regard, Said points to the way that the rich and varied texture of cultures, countries and the wealth of diversity of these regions are unfairly condensed and distorted into the stereotypes of Western commentators and scholars. As one commentator notes, "The depiction of this single 'Orient' which can be studied as a cohesive whole is one of the most powerful accomplishments of Orientalist scholars. " (Orientalism) This leads Said to understand the structure of orientalism to mean the creation of biased and skewed prototypical image of the oriental; which is of a ...biological inferior that is culturally backward, peculiar, and unchanging... depicted in dominating and sexual terms." (Orientalism)"

Tags:West, Middle, East, cultures, myths, stereotypes

Abstract
This paper supports the thesis that educational opportunities are increasing as a result of fundamental changes within Middle Eastern society itself. The paper focuses on the external factors that support these structural changes and highlights the impact of globalization and the global community. The paper discusses the small advances in countries such as Yemen and Turkey and the continuing oppression in countries such as Algeria, and concludes that the while the advancement of the education of women will not occur without drastic political and social change, pressures to globalize will continue to aid in these processes.

Outline:
Shifting Paradigms: Internal Influences
Global Influences
Searching For New Discourse
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Whenever two cultures come into contact with one anther, regardless of the reason, they will have an influence on members of both societies. September 11, 2001 began the wholesale, intentional invasion of American ideals into the Middle East (Bergeron, 2003). American policy makers felt that the "backwardness" of the culture would begin to erode with little incident (Bergeron, 2003). However, this is not what happened. Traditional Middle Eastern cultures did not embrace the new, more democratic ways. New ideals did not have the competitive advantage and many held on to their traditional beliefs and lifestyles fervently (Bergeron, 2003). Failure of US policymakers to understand cultural attitudes in the Middle East are a key reason for this failure (Bergeron, 2003).
"Even though Middle Easterners did not react in the accepting manner that was expected, the influence of non-oriental ideas had an affect on ideals in the Middle East. These changes were more subtle are only now beginning to be able to be discerned from an academic standpoint. One of the difficulties in the change process is that authoritarian rule continues to dominate Middle Eastern politics (Zambelis, 2005). Autocratic regimes stand as a roadblock to fundamental change in many Middle Eastern nations. Slow response to emerging opportunities to women is only a symptom of these attitudes that support traditional values and resistance to change."

Tags:feminism, globalization, autocracy, Islam

Abstract
This paper examines the economies of the United Arab Emirates and Canada, two very different nations, yet finds comparisons between the two. First, the paper begins with an broad description of the UAE, noting its recent development through the discovery of oil. Next, it describes the nation's standard of living and future plans to expand the economy and further develop the country's infrastructure. Then, the paper takes a look at Canada, describing it as an affluent, high-tech industrial society resembling the United States' market-oriented economic system, pattern of production and high living standards. Additionally, statistics are cited which demonstrate Canada's growth since World War II, yet also show the recent economic downturn. Finally, the paper compares the UAE and Canadian economies and the countries in general, citing literacy rates, standard of living and life expectancy as the basis for this comparison.

Outline:

The Economy of Canada
Comparison between the Economies of UAE and Canada

From the Paper
" The UAE economy is largely dependent on its oil and natural gas and the revenue realized from their exports, particularly to fund infrastructure for non-oil industries (CIA 2009, Library of Congress 2009). It had an approximate 7% average annual growth rate for 2007-2008, drawing mainly from investments in manufacturing and energy sector to sustain the non-oil sector. The projection for the services sector, mainly tourism, was also optimistic. The strategic plan for the next few years centers on diversification and more job opportunities through better education and private sector's commitment to create these jobs. But higher oil revenue, strong liquidity, shortages in housing and cheap credits in 2005 to 2007 raised asset prices and consumer inflation sky-high. The global financial crisis, consequent tight international credit market and falling oil prices predicted slower economic growth of the UAE for the current year."

Tags:oil revenue, natural resources, inflation, literacy, life expectancy

Abstract
The paper lists the Saudi Arabian government's ten-point tourism development plan and reveals that while it has led to a tremendous increase in tourism development in the Kingdom, it could cause a drain on the natural resources. The paper instead proposes a sustainable tourism development plan with emphasis on the eastern coast covering Ra's al Khafji from the north, Al Jubayl in the center and to Ad Damman and Dharhan to the south. The paper provides several recommendations and considerations for a program that will ensure viability of the industry without harming the ecological balance of the area.

From the Paper
"Once the above are all considered, representatives from the previously mentioned regions will identify resources, attractions and facilities in their respective areas that will be incorporated in the sustainable tourism development plan. Aside from these, the representatives will also need to identify potential local and foreign investors who believe in funding such a noble tourism program. The key consideration in this matter is that "efforts to promote tourism development in the region must consider up-front the possible risks, negative impacts, and externalities that tourism development and increased tourist flows generate. These range from increased use of resources (such as water), environmental degradation, conflicts with indigenous groups over land use, the distortion of the local economy, and negative cultural impacts. (Hazbun, 2006)" To ensure compliance from all sectors that will be involved; the advocacy should be spearheaded by the government with Ministry of Economy and Planning of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Supreme Commission for Tourism at the forefront.
"After identifying the regional and sectoral representatives, mapping out resources, attractions and facilities, listing potential local and international investors, ascertaining the risks associated with the plan and being spearheaded by the government, it is important to prepare the budget needed to realize the plan. Depending upon the concession of parties involved, the sustainable tourism development plan can be on a three-, five- or ten-year program."

Tags:ecology, resources, ecotourism, biodiversity, locals

Abstract
The paper looks at the population of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the state of education in this country. The paper outlines the UAE's Ministry of Education's "Education 2020" initiative and looks at the UAE University. The paper then looks at the structure of households and at the violations in the country's fundamental practices and policies.

Outline:
Population
Education
Family Structure
Cultural Tensions

From the Paper
"Of the UAE's total population aged 15 and over, 77% can read and write and considered literate (CIA 2009). Among those considered literate, 76.1% are male and 81.7% are female. Girls tend to remain in school from primary to tertiary levels for 12 years, according to 2003 statistics (Library of Congress 2007). Boys remain in school for 11 years. 2005 figures say that 1/3 of the State's GDP are spent on education. Education is compulsory for citizens up to ninth grade but this is not followed, according to the US Department of State. Children are obliged to attend schools according to gender up to the sixth grade. The sixth grade is the last in primary education. Statistics say that in 2004 - 2005, 9.9% of students in grades 1 to 5 and 8.3% of those in grades 10 to 12 did not complete their education. Those missing classes in grades 10 to 12 increased to 9.3% (Library of Congress).
"Recognizing these pitfalls, UAE's Ministry of Education launched Education 2020, consisting of five-year plans to address the problems (Library of Congress 2007). These plans would introduce advanced education techniques, improve innovative skills, and accentuate self-learning abilities of students. They also introduced an enhanced curriculum for mathematics and integrated science at first-grade level in the 2003 academic year in all government schools."

Tags:households, marriages, human, rights, trafficking

Abstract
This paper examines the importance of developing the infrastructure in the Middle East, focusing on US interests on boosting Egypt in particular. The paper begins by describing the current economic situation in many Middle Eastern nations, noting the paradoxes that exist between being resource rich yet impoverished on many levels. Next, it analyzes the rationale behind the United States' interests in seeing developments in the Middle East, both on an altruistic level and economic level. The paper then discusses Egypt and how its development would benefit the US. Various aspects of developing Egypt are cited, such as economic reform, investments in communications and third, investments in physical infrastructure. In particular, the paper notes the role of the Nile in giving Egypt the potential to develop. The paper concludes by describing Hands Along the Nile Development Services, which has already managed to improve the quality of social services as well as other issues, all to lead to improved living conditions.

Outline:

Introduction
Importance of Development to the United States
Emphasis on Egypt
Conclusions

From the Paper
"Saudi Arabia for instance exports mainly petroleum and petroleum based products, which constitute an estimated 90 percent of all of their trade commodities. The U.S. represents their largest export partner, with the largest share of 17.1 percent petroleum going to the North American country. While the palette of exported products is vaster for Pakistan and includes primarily textiles, rice, leather, chemicals and manufactured items, the situation is similar in the meaning that the largest portion of their products (18 percent) goes to the United States, which is their largest export partner. It could also be argued that the United States is interested in seeing developments in the Middle East as the region represents a destination for the American products. While this is true and the American manufacturers do export some of their commodities to the Oriental market, the actual percentage to U.S. revenues is reduced. The Pakistani markets for instance only import 5 percent of all their sold goods from the United States (Central Intelligence Agency, 2009). Consequently then, it can be concluded that the main economic interest is that of developing the region that offers access to cost effective and abundant natural resources."

Tags:Hands along the Nile Development Corps, Orient, infrastructure, natural resources, oil