Publication: Suudi Arabistan’daki petrol gelirlerinin sosyal yapıya olan etkisi
Abstract
Ortadoğu, tarih boyunca olduğu gibi, günümüzde de, coğrafi konumu ve üç dinin çıkış bölgesi olmasının yanı sıra, zengin petrol kaynaklarıyla dünyanın en önemli bölgelerinden biri olma özelliğini korumaktadır. Bu özellikler, Ortadoğu ülkelerinin, tarih boyu ekonomik, politik ve sosyal değişimlere, çatışmalara ve karmaşaya sahne olmasına yol açmıştır. Suudi Arabistan, bu bölgenin petrol kaynakları açısından en zengin ülkesidir. Bu sayede ekonomik gelişimi hızlı olmuş, bu ekonomik gelişimin sosyal yansımaları da açık bir şekilde görülmüştür. Artan petrol gelirleriyle, devlet harcamaları da çoğalmış; eğitim, sağlık, altyapı gibi pek çok alanda gelişmelere sahne olunmuştur. Petrol gelirleriyle hızlı bir şekilde zenginleşen Suudi Arabistan’ın sosyal yapısında pek çok değişim yaşanmıştır. Toplumdaki en önemli değişimlerden biri, belki de en önemlisi emek göçü olmuştur. Petrol gelirlerinin bir diğer etkisi yeni toplumsal sınıfların ortaya çıkışı olmuştur. Suudi Arabistan’ın en önemli sosyal oluşumu olan kabile yapısında değişiklikler meydana gelmiş, bedevi yaşam tarzı değişmiş ve göçebelikten yerleşik hayata geçilmeye başlanmıştır. Toplumda hem modern hem geleneksel yapılar yan yana yer almaya başlamış ve kültürel bazı değişimler meydana gelmiştir. Suudi Arabistan toplumunda Batının etkileri görülmeye başlanmıştır. Bunların yanı sıra, yaşanan bütün bu değişimler sosyal rahatsızlık ve çatışmalara da neden olmuş; özellikle toplumdaki aşırı dinci kesim, bu gelişmelerin geleneksel yapıyı bozacağı savıyla ayrılıkçı isyan ve başkaldırılarda bulunmuşlardır. Yabancı emek gücüne karşı gelişen ayrımcılık da bu çatışmaların başka bir nedeni olmuştur.
The Middle East is one of the most significant regions of the world today, as it has been all over the history, with its geographical position, its historical importance of being the origin of the three religion, as well as having extremely wide oil resources. These characteristics of the region have paved the way for the countries of the region to live many politic, economic and social changes as well as conflicts and chaos. Saudi Arabia has the widest oil reserves in the Middle East. This has rendered the country to have the fastest economic development in this area. The social reflections of these economic developments can be seen clearly. The increase in the oil revenues has also increased the government expenditures. With these expenditures, the government has realized many developments projects, especially in the sectors of education, health and infrastructure. Sudden enrichment of Saudi Arabia by the oil revenues, has also caused many changes in the social structure. One of the most significant social changes has been the labour immigration. Another effect of the oil revenues is the emergence of new social classes. The tribal structure, which is the most significant social formation of Saudi Arabia, and the bedouin life style have lived structural changes and also nomads have begun to be settled. During all of these social changes, there has been occured some conventional and modern structures together in the society and the society has encountered some cultural changes. The Western effects has become significant in Saudi Arabia. Besides, all these changes have caused many social disturbances and conflicts; especially the radical religious part of the society has disposed many separatist riots with the claim that these social changes would disrupt the conventional character of the Saudi society. Another cause of these conflicts has been the ethnic separation towards foreign labour immigrants.
The Middle East is one of the most significant regions of the world today, as it has been all over the history, with its geographical position, its historical importance of being the origin of the three religion, as well as having extremely wide oil resources. These characteristics of the region have paved the way for the countries of the region to live many politic, economic and social changes as well as conflicts and chaos. Saudi Arabia has the widest oil reserves in the Middle East. This has rendered the country to have the fastest economic development in this area. The social reflections of these economic developments can be seen clearly. The increase in the oil revenues has also increased the government expenditures. With these expenditures, the government has realized many developments projects, especially in the sectors of education, health and infrastructure. Sudden enrichment of Saudi Arabia by the oil revenues, has also caused many changes in the social structure. One of the most significant social changes has been the labour immigration. Another effect of the oil revenues is the emergence of new social classes. The tribal structure, which is the most significant social formation of Saudi Arabia, and the bedouin life style have lived structural changes and also nomads have begun to be settled. During all of these social changes, there has been occured some conventional and modern structures together in the society and the society has encountered some cultural changes. The Western effects has become significant in Saudi Arabia. Besides, all these changes have caused many social disturbances and conflicts; especially the radical religious part of the society has disposed many separatist riots with the claim that these social changes would disrupt the conventional character of the Saudi society. Another cause of these conflicts has been the ethnic separation towards foreign labour immigrants.