Persectives of Academic Staff and Graduate Students on the Effects of Globalisation on Cultural Identity in Saudi Arabia: A case Study

Abstract

The philosophy and policy of Saudi Arabia, since its establishment, have been based on the ethics of Islam and on the accompanying Islamic values and culture. However, globalisation has led to some changes and has raised many challenges for cultural identity in the country. How can Saudi Arabia face the challenges of globalisation while maintaining the country’s core cultural values, founded on Islamic principles? This study explores the changing cultural identity in Saudi Arabia, in relation to globalisation, through the perspectives of academic staff and postgraduate students at the College of Education at ‘Qassim Uviersity. The study adopted the interpretive paradigm. A case study of one higher education institution was undertaken, interviews were used to collect the data (n=18). The study revealed that globalisation seems to have had significant effects on the cultural identity of Saudi society, as can be seen through the increased spread of the English language, which has negatively affected the use of Arabic. Globalisation has played a key role in spreading the Western lifestyle within Saudi society, and within the younger generation in particular. This may be seen as a threat to the society’s cultural identity.