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EXPLORING YOUTHS’ PERCEPTIONS OF (IN)TOLERANCE IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Corresponding Author(s) : Ghada M. Abaido
Humanities & Social Sciences Reviews,
Vol. 8 No. 3 (2020): May
Abstract
Purpose of the study: This paper aims to explore how youth perceive the meaning of social, cultural, and religious tolerance in the United Arab Emirates as a multicultural, multi-ethnic society.
Methodology: Data were collected using a survey conducted with 400 participants from different nationalities living and studying in UAE universities representing over 40 different nationalities.
Main Findings: The study reveals that the roots of tolerance have historically been embedded in the UAE through various societal, geographic, religious, and economic factors. Findings revealed that 70.5 % of the sample expressed the belief that the UAE is a relatively tolerant society, whereas 29.5% believe that more efforts need to be made to instill values of tolerance, inclusion and acceptance. Surprisingly, more than half the respondents (53.5%) stated that they were unaware of the existence of a Ministry of Tolerance in the UAE.
Implications: The topic of tolerance and intolerance has been a research area of interest in several countries but rarely raised in the Arab region. Many misconceptions have surrounded the meaning of tolerance especially in a region that has witnessed several social and political turbulences.
Originality/Novelty of the study: Limited or no studies have been conducted towards understanding and conceptualizing tolerance in the Middle East and Gulf Cooperation Council societies. Since 2019 was announced as the Year of Tolerance, it was significant to investigate this nationwide initiative and its impact on the 200 different nationalities living in the UAE.
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- Arreaga, L. M. (2017). Third culture kids and how they can teach multiculturalism (Doctoral dissertation). http://hdl.handle.net/1946/28570.
- Asda’a, B. M. (2016). Inside the hearts and minds of Arab youth. 8th Annual Arab Youth Survey, Burson-Marsteller, Dubai.
- Buckley, P. J. & Ghauri, P. N. (2004). Globalization, economic geography and the strategy of multinational enterprises. Journal of International Business Studies, 35(2), 81–98. https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.jibs.8400076 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.jibs.8400076
- Bunting, M. (2014). If you don’t think multiculturalism is working, look at your street corner. The Guardian, 16.
- Cohen, L., Manion L., & Morrison, K. (2011). Research methods in education (7th edition). London: Routledge.
- El Fadl, K. A. & Lague, I. (2002). The place of tolerance in Islam. Beacon Press.
- Farahana, Z. N. & Norhasniah, W. H. W. (2018). Ethnic tolerance among students in Malaysian public universities. In 1st International Conference on Contemporary Education and Economic Development (CEED 2018). Atlantis Press. https://doi.org/10.2991/ceed-18.2018.2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2991/ceed-18.2018.2
- Heard-Bey, F. (2001). The tribal society of the UAE and its traditional economy. United Arab Emirates: A New Perspective, 98–116.
- Hellyer, P. (2001). Nestorian Christianity in pre-Islamic UAE and southeastern Arabia. Journal of Social Affairs, 18(72), 79–99.
- Hogg, M. A., & Reid, S. A. (2006). Social identity, self-categorization, and the communication of group norms. Communication Theory, 16(1), 7–30. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2885.2006.00003.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2885.2006.00003.x
- Hogg, M. A. (2006). Social identity theory. In P. J. Burke (Ed.), Contemporary social psychological theories (p. 111–136). Stanford University Press.
- Hourani, R. B. (2015). Folktales, children’s literature and national identity in the United Arab Emirates. The Looking Glass: New Perspectives on Children's Literature, 18(1).
- Khan, S. M. (2015). FNC: UAE's deep-rooted democracy. Defence Journal, 19(3), 13.
- Korol, L., Gonçalves, G., & Cabral, M. (2016). The impact of multicultural personality on tolerance of diversity in a sample of Portuguese university students. Psicologia: Teoria e Prática, 18(2), 57–74. https://doi.org/10.15348/1980-6906/psicologia.v18n2p57-74 DOI: https://doi.org/10.15348/1980-6906/psicologia.v18n2p57-74
- Lustig, M. (2010). Intercultural competence: interpersonal communication across cultures. Pearson Education.
- Lustig, M. W. (2013). Intercultural competence interpersonal communication across cultures, (7th edition). Pearson.
- Mangum, M. & Block, R. (2018). Social Identity Theory and Public Opinion towards Immigration. Social Sciences, 7(3), 41. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci7030041 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci7030041
- Marks, S. (1977). UNESCO and human rights: the implementation of rights relating to education, science, culture, and communication. Texas International Law Journal, 13, 35.
- McKinnon, C. & Castiglione, D. (Eds.). (2003). The culture of toleration in diverse societies: reasonable tolerance. Manchester University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.9760/MUPOA/9780719062322
- Meyer, De Kock et al. (2014). A conservation introduction of the Arabian Tahr on Sir BaniYas island: Site selection. doi: 10.13140/RG.2.1.2266.2801.
- Morgan, P. (Ed.). (2007) Ethical issues in six religious’ traditions. Edinburgh University Press.
- Mummendey, A. & Wenzel, M. (1999). Social discrimination and tolerance in intergroup relations; reactions to intergroup difference. Personality and Social Psychology Review 3(2), 158–74. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327957pspr0302_4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327957pspr0302_4
- Neufeldt, V. & Guralnik, D. B. (1994). Webster's new world dictionary of American English. Prentice Hall.
- Pollock, D. C., Van Reken, R. E., & Pollock, M. V. (2010). Third culture kids: The experience of growing up among worlds: The original, classic book on TCKs. Nicholas Brealey Publishing, Hachette UK. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-044894-7.01473-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-044894-7.01473-1
- Roshwald, M. (2007). Toleration, pluralism, and truth. Diogenes, (3), 31–44. https://doi.org/10.1177/0392192108092622 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0392192108092622
- Russell, A., Coughlin, C., El Walily, M., & Al Amri, M. (2005). Youth in the United Arab Emirates: Perceptions of problems and needs for a successful transition to adulthood. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 12(3), 189–212. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2005.9747952 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2005.9747952
- Sahal, M., Musadad, A. A., & Akhyar, M. (2018). Tolerance in multicultural education: A theoretical concept. International Journal of Multicultural and Multireligious Understanding, 5(4), 115–122. https://doi.org/10.18415/ijmmu.v5i4.212 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18415/ijmmu.v5i4.212
- Sherpa, D. (2019). Exploring the dimensions of multicultural education and its implication in teaching learning. Interdisciplinary Research in Education, 4(1), 35–42. https://doi.org/10.3126/ire.v4i1.25708 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3126/ire.v4i1.25708
- Spinthourakis, J. A. (2007). Multiculturali m, diversity and the need for tolerance and Greek kindergarten teachers. Problemy Wczesnej Edukacji [Problems of Early Education.], 1(2), 5–6.
- Sullivan J. L., Piereson J., & Marcus G. E. (1982). Political tolerance and American democracy. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
- Tajfel, H. (Ed.). (2010). Social identity and intergroup relations (Vol. 7). Cambridge University Press, UK.
- Tilaar, H. A. R. (2004). Multiculturalism (challenges in the global future transformation of national education). Grasindo.
- Turner, J. C., & Tajfel, H. (1986). The social identity theory of intergroup behavior. Psychology of intergroup relations, 5, 7–24.
- UAE Ministry of Education. (2015). Statistics. www.scad.ae
- UAE Ministry of Justice. http://ejustice.gov.ae/downloads/latest_laws/cybercrimes_5_2012_en.pdf
- UNESCO declaration, (1965). http://www.unesco.org/
- Van der Walt, J. L. (2016). Religious tolerance and intolerance: Engravings on the soul. In die Skriflig, 50(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.4102/ids.v50i1.2016 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/ids.v50i1.2016
- Voght, W. P. (1997). Tolerance & education: Learning to live with diversity and difference. Sage Publications, Inc.
- Vinogradov, V., Kortunov, V., & Kachalov, D. (2017). Organizational and pedagogical conditions for the formation of interethnic and interreligious tolerance of high school students in the process of teaching social science subjects. SCOPUS07981015-2017-38-40-SID85028603223.
- World Tolerance Summit (2019). Themed; Tolerance in multiculturalism: Achieving the social, economic and humane benefits of a tolerant world, Dubai.13–14 November 2019.
- Zeugner-Roth, K. P., Žabkar, V., & Diamantopoulos, A. (2015). Consumer ethnocentrism, national identity, and consumer cosmopolitanism as drivers of consumer behavior: A social identity theory perspective. Journal of International Marketing, 23(2), 25–54. https://doi.org/10.1509/jim.14.0038 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1509/jim.14.0038
References
Arreaga, L. M. (2017). Third culture kids and how they can teach multiculturalism (Doctoral dissertation). http://hdl.handle.net/1946/28570.
Asda’a, B. M. (2016). Inside the hearts and minds of Arab youth. 8th Annual Arab Youth Survey, Burson-Marsteller, Dubai.
Buckley, P. J. & Ghauri, P. N. (2004). Globalization, economic geography and the strategy of multinational enterprises. Journal of International Business Studies, 35(2), 81–98. https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.jibs.8400076 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.jibs.8400076
Bunting, M. (2014). If you don’t think multiculturalism is working, look at your street corner. The Guardian, 16.
Cohen, L., Manion L., & Morrison, K. (2011). Research methods in education (7th edition). London: Routledge.
El Fadl, K. A. & Lague, I. (2002). The place of tolerance in Islam. Beacon Press.
Farahana, Z. N. & Norhasniah, W. H. W. (2018). Ethnic tolerance among students in Malaysian public universities. In 1st International Conference on Contemporary Education and Economic Development (CEED 2018). Atlantis Press. https://doi.org/10.2991/ceed-18.2018.2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2991/ceed-18.2018.2
Heard-Bey, F. (2001). The tribal society of the UAE and its traditional economy. United Arab Emirates: A New Perspective, 98–116.
Hellyer, P. (2001). Nestorian Christianity in pre-Islamic UAE and southeastern Arabia. Journal of Social Affairs, 18(72), 79–99.
Hogg, M. A., & Reid, S. A. (2006). Social identity, self-categorization, and the communication of group norms. Communication Theory, 16(1), 7–30. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2885.2006.00003.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2885.2006.00003.x
Hogg, M. A. (2006). Social identity theory. In P. J. Burke (Ed.), Contemporary social psychological theories (p. 111–136). Stanford University Press.
Hourani, R. B. (2015). Folktales, children’s literature and national identity in the United Arab Emirates. The Looking Glass: New Perspectives on Children's Literature, 18(1).
Khan, S. M. (2015). FNC: UAE's deep-rooted democracy. Defence Journal, 19(3), 13.
Korol, L., Gonçalves, G., & Cabral, M. (2016). The impact of multicultural personality on tolerance of diversity in a sample of Portuguese university students. Psicologia: Teoria e Prática, 18(2), 57–74. https://doi.org/10.15348/1980-6906/psicologia.v18n2p57-74 DOI: https://doi.org/10.15348/1980-6906/psicologia.v18n2p57-74
Lustig, M. (2010). Intercultural competence: interpersonal communication across cultures. Pearson Education.
Lustig, M. W. (2013). Intercultural competence interpersonal communication across cultures, (7th edition). Pearson.
Mangum, M. & Block, R. (2018). Social Identity Theory and Public Opinion towards Immigration. Social Sciences, 7(3), 41. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci7030041 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci7030041
Marks, S. (1977). UNESCO and human rights: the implementation of rights relating to education, science, culture, and communication. Texas International Law Journal, 13, 35.
McKinnon, C. & Castiglione, D. (Eds.). (2003). The culture of toleration in diverse societies: reasonable tolerance. Manchester University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.9760/MUPOA/9780719062322
Meyer, De Kock et al. (2014). A conservation introduction of the Arabian Tahr on Sir BaniYas island: Site selection. doi: 10.13140/RG.2.1.2266.2801.
Morgan, P. (Ed.). (2007) Ethical issues in six religious’ traditions. Edinburgh University Press.
Mummendey, A. & Wenzel, M. (1999). Social discrimination and tolerance in intergroup relations; reactions to intergroup difference. Personality and Social Psychology Review 3(2), 158–74. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327957pspr0302_4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327957pspr0302_4
Neufeldt, V. & Guralnik, D. B. (1994). Webster's new world dictionary of American English. Prentice Hall.
Pollock, D. C., Van Reken, R. E., & Pollock, M. V. (2010). Third culture kids: The experience of growing up among worlds: The original, classic book on TCKs. Nicholas Brealey Publishing, Hachette UK. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-044894-7.01473-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-044894-7.01473-1
Roshwald, M. (2007). Toleration, pluralism, and truth. Diogenes, (3), 31–44. https://doi.org/10.1177/0392192108092622 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0392192108092622
Russell, A., Coughlin, C., El Walily, M., & Al Amri, M. (2005). Youth in the United Arab Emirates: Perceptions of problems and needs for a successful transition to adulthood. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 12(3), 189–212. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2005.9747952 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2005.9747952
Sahal, M., Musadad, A. A., & Akhyar, M. (2018). Tolerance in multicultural education: A theoretical concept. International Journal of Multicultural and Multireligious Understanding, 5(4), 115–122. https://doi.org/10.18415/ijmmu.v5i4.212 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18415/ijmmu.v5i4.212
Sherpa, D. (2019). Exploring the dimensions of multicultural education and its implication in teaching learning. Interdisciplinary Research in Education, 4(1), 35–42. https://doi.org/10.3126/ire.v4i1.25708 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3126/ire.v4i1.25708
Spinthourakis, J. A. (2007). Multiculturali m, diversity and the need for tolerance and Greek kindergarten teachers. Problemy Wczesnej Edukacji [Problems of Early Education.], 1(2), 5–6.
Sullivan J. L., Piereson J., & Marcus G. E. (1982). Political tolerance and American democracy. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Tajfel, H. (Ed.). (2010). Social identity and intergroup relations (Vol. 7). Cambridge University Press, UK.
Tilaar, H. A. R. (2004). Multiculturalism (challenges in the global future transformation of national education). Grasindo.
Turner, J. C., & Tajfel, H. (1986). The social identity theory of intergroup behavior. Psychology of intergroup relations, 5, 7–24.
UAE Ministry of Education. (2015). Statistics. www.scad.ae
UAE Ministry of Justice. http://ejustice.gov.ae/downloads/latest_laws/cybercrimes_5_2012_en.pdf
UNESCO declaration, (1965). http://www.unesco.org/
Van der Walt, J. L. (2016). Religious tolerance and intolerance: Engravings on the soul. In die Skriflig, 50(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.4102/ids.v50i1.2016 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/ids.v50i1.2016
Voght, W. P. (1997). Tolerance & education: Learning to live with diversity and difference. Sage Publications, Inc.
Vinogradov, V., Kortunov, V., & Kachalov, D. (2017). Organizational and pedagogical conditions for the formation of interethnic and interreligious tolerance of high school students in the process of teaching social science subjects. SCOPUS07981015-2017-38-40-SID85028603223.
World Tolerance Summit (2019). Themed; Tolerance in multiculturalism: Achieving the social, economic and humane benefits of a tolerant world, Dubai.13–14 November 2019.
Zeugner-Roth, K. P., Žabkar, V., & Diamantopoulos, A. (2015). Consumer ethnocentrism, national identity, and consumer cosmopolitanism as drivers of consumer behavior: A social identity theory perspective. Journal of International Marketing, 23(2), 25–54. https://doi.org/10.1509/jim.14.0038 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1509/jim.14.0038