Running head: KUWAIT: SMALL BUT MIGHTY 1 KUWAIT: SMALL BUT MIGHTY 8 Kuwait: Small but Mighty Keightley Dudgeon COMM 263 Kuwait: Small but Mighty Kuwait is a small Middle Eastern country located on the eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. Kuwait is an incredibly wealthy country. It is strategically located in the desert, which is rich with oilfields. It is also located on the coast of the Persian Gulf, making it easily accessible. Women in Kuwait enjoy more freedom than women living in most other Middle Eastern countries. They have the right to vote, they are allowed to drive, and they are not required a male escort outside of the home. Finally, Kuwait is densely populated, with several major cities, including the capital, Kuwait City, among others such as Al Ahmadi, Al Farwaniyah, and Hawali. An overwhelming majority of the population is concentrated in these cities, with only 2 percent living in rural areas (Bailey, 2016). Kuwait stands out as an economically prosperous and culturally progressive country in the Middle East. Kuwait is one of the wealthiest nations in the world. The nation’s economic success stems from the development of desert oilfields in the twentieth century. According to the CIA World Fact Book, “petroleum accounts for over half of the gross domestic product in Kuwait, 94 percent of export revenues, and 89 percent of government income” (CIA World Fact Book, 2016, p. 415). It is obvious from this data that Kuwait’s economy is largely dependent on the oil industry, and with the high oil prices in the last decade, Kuwait has accumulated budget surplus. This budget surplus persisted, even after Kuwait used a portion of the excess money to build roads, institute free health care, and “support an educational system that has resulted in one of the highest literacy rates in the Middle East” (Bailey, 2016, p. 1). Despite this economic success, there has been a recent fall in oil prices and a consequent push for more economic diversity in Kuwait, which would allow for sustainability and success in later generations. Diversifying the economy in Kuwait would require the increase of domestic production inside the country borders. Currently, there is a large imbalance between imports and non-oil exports (Ellis & MacDonald, 1982). A large portion of the oil revenue generated is spent on foreign imports due to the lack of domestic production in Kuwait. Kuwait has developed foreign dependency that is not sustainable, due to the finite nature of oil production. Interestingly enough, Kuwait is dependent on foreign countries past the import of goods. Kuwait is also dependent on foreign labor. The expatriate population is greater than the native population in Kuwait (Mahmoud & Alajmi, 2010). An expatriate is a person working outside of their home country. Many of the expatriates in Kuwait are there to work in the oil industry; the economic boom that Kuwait experienced in the mid to late twentieth century made i ...

1. Running head: KUWAIT: SMALL BUT MIGHTY 1
KUWAIT: SMALL BUT MIGHTY 8
Kuwait: Small but Mighty
Keightley Dudgeon
COMM 263
Kuwait: Small but Mighty
Kuwait is a small Middle Eastern country located on the
eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. Kuwait is an incredibly
wealthy country. It is strategically located in the desert, which
is rich with oilfields. It is also located on the coast of the
Persian Gulf, making it easily accessible. Women in Kuwait

2. enjoy more freedom than women living in most other Middle
Eastern countries. They have the right to vote, they are allowed
to drive, and they are not required a male escort outside of the
home. Finally, Kuwait is densely populated, with several major
cities, including the capital, Kuwait City, among others such as
Al Ahmadi, Al Farwaniyah, and Hawali. An overwhelming
majority of the population is concentrated in these cities, with
only 2 percent living in rural areas (Bailey, 2016). Kuwait
stands out as an economically prosperous and culturally
progressive country in the Middle East.
Kuwait is one of the wealthiest nations in the world. The
nation’s economic success stems from the development of desert
oilfields in the twentieth century. According to the CIA World
Fact Book, “petroleum accounts for over half of the gross
domestic product in Kuwait, 94 percent of export revenues, and
89 percent of government income” (CIA World Fact Book,
2016, p. 415). It is obvious from this data that Kuwait’s
economy is largely dependent on the oil industry, and with the
high oil prices in the last decade, Kuwait has accumulated
budget surplus. This budget surplus persisted, even after Kuwait
used a portion of the excess money to build roads, institute free
health care, and “support an educational system that has
resulted in one of the highest literacy rates in the Middle East”
(Bailey, 2016, p. 1). Despite this economic success, there has
been a recent fall in oil prices and a consequent push for more
economic diversity in Kuwait, which would allow for
sustainability and success in later generations.
Diversifying the economy in Kuwait would require the increase
of domestic production inside the country borders. Currently,
there is a large imbalance between imports and non-oil exports
(Ellis & MacDonald, 1982). A large portion of the oil revenue
generated is spent on foreign imports due to the lack of
domestic production in Kuwait. Kuwait has developed foreign
dependency that is not sustainable, due to the finite nature of oil
production.
Interestingly enough, Kuwait is dependent on foreign countries

3. past the import of goods. Kuwait is also dependent on foreign
labor. The expatriate population is greater than the native
population in Kuwait (Mahmoud & Alajmi, 2010). An expatriate
is a person working outside of their home country. Many of the
expatriates in Kuwait are there to work in the oil industry; the
economic boom that Kuwait experienced in the mid to late
twentieth century made it a very popular country to come and
work. According to the 2011 census, “expatriates form 67
percent of the population in Kuwait, with an average population
growth of 6.7 percent annually” (Tariq, Goddard, & Elkum,
2013). Kuwait is a great place for expatriates to live and work
because the standard of living is so high (Ellis & MacDonald,
1982). However, this dependency on foreign labor presents
another obstacle in the path to Kuwait becoming more
economically diverse.
Kuwait is also more progressive than most other countries in the
Middle East. Kuwaiti women have rights that women in other
Middle Eastern countries, such as Saudi Arabia, do not. They
have the right to vote, they are allowed to drive, and they are
not required a male escort outside of the home. However, they
have not had these rights forever. In fact, most developments in
Kuwaiti society regarding women’s rights are extremely recent.
Until the end of the twentieth century, women very rarely
acquired higher education or worked outside of the home. Now,
“women outnumber men in the university, and women constitute
one-third of the labor force” (Bailey, p. 1).
I am involved in an international chat group that meets once a
week for two hours. This chat is facilitated through a program
called Soliya. Three of the participants in my international chat
group are from Kuwait, and have spoken openly about the
political freedoms that are allowed in the Kuwait, yet forbidden
in other parts of the Middle East. Basil Mattar, a Kuwaiti
student attending the American University of Kuwait, said that
Kuwaiti women have almost full civil and political rights
(personal communication, April 22, 2017). They hold Chief
Executive Officer (C.E.O.) positions; they work as ministers

4. and politicians. Yet, according to Basil, the burden of securing
a family’s finances still falls to the men, and being a housewife
is still the predominant role of women in society; therefore,
current day Kuwait society is mainly patriarchal. A Kuwaiti
woman in my group named Seyma Genc, testified that the
reason for this is that “for most men, having compassion and
behaving in accordance with it is weakness.” This ideal is
certainly applicable across cultures.
Another component of Kuwait culture that points to
progressiveness is the religion. According to Basil, Kuwait is a
majority Muslim country. Basil, a former Muslim, has since
denounced the religion and classifies himself as unreligious. He
said that in some Middle Eastern countries, this would be
looked down upon and greatly discouraged. However, in
Kuwait, “there are no legal repercussions to changing religion.”
He said that Kuwait is surprisingly open. There are a lot of
secular opinions in the parliament, which is Kuwait’s form of
government. Also, there are many secularists and anti-Islamists,
mainly Kuwaiti, who voice their opinion on national TV. This
would be absolutely forbidden in other Middle Eastern
countries. However, he also said that “Saudi Arabia has quite
the influence on Kuwaiti public policy formulation and as we
know, Saudi Arabia has classified atheists as ‘terrorists.’” So
Kuwait is politically progressive, yet still influenced by the
neighboring countries, which hold much more conservative
standards.
Kuwait may be examined and further understood through Geert
Hofstede’s value dimensions, which are
“individualism/collectivism, high uncertainty avoidance/low
uncertainty avoidance, high power distance/low power distance,
masculinity/femininity, long-term oriented/short-term oriented,
and indulgent/restrained” (Samovar, Porter, McDaniel, & Roy,
2013). First, Kuwait is a collectivist society. Collectivism is a
common theme in Middle Eastern culture. For example, my
friend and Kuwaiti currently studying at Western Kentucky
University, Khaled Aljaber, already knows where he will live in

5. Kuwait after graduating from the engineering program at
Western Kentucky University. He will live in a large house with
his extended family. Kuwait is a very family-oriented society;
the larger group is much more emphasized than the individual.
In Middle Eastern culture, the tribe is often emphasized. A tribe
is basically the family tree; it consists of the complete extended
family and is concerned with family ancestry. According to
Khaled, there is a competitive nature in determining which tribe
is strongest or most capable in Arab society. Therefore, the
achievements and accomplishments of Kuwaitis are often
measured in collective terms; the tribe is much more important
than the individual.
I would argue that Kuwait is neither a high uncertainty
avoidance or low uncertainty avoidance culture. Rather, Kuwait
society represents a middle ground between the two. For one, a
large portion of the Kuwait population is made up by
foreigners; expatriates outnumber actual Kuwaitis. This lends
one to think that Kuwait is a low uncertainty avoidance culture,
since they are so willing to let people unlike them work and live
in the country. Yet, there are still societal standards that remain
resistant to change, such as the patriarchal nature of the family.
This lends one to think that Kuwait is a high uncertainty
avoidance culture, since the society is resistant to drastic
change. Therefore, I would say that Kuwait stands on a middle
ground between high uncertainty avoidance and low uncertainty
avoidance.
Kuwait has a semi-democratic government system. It is formally
classified as a constitutional emirate, with a cabinet appointed
by the prime minister and approved by the amir. The amir,
which is the Arabic word for prince, is chosen from the ruling
family and confirmed by the National Assembly. The prime
minister is then appointed by the amir (CIA World Fact Book,
2016, p. 414). The structure of Kuwait government confirms
Kuwait as a high power distance society. In other words, power
is largely accepted as part of society. The government system
may be partially democratic, but a majority of the power rests in

6. the ruling family. Equal opportunity is not as prevalent in
Kuwait society as it is in the United States. Therefore, I would
say that Kuwait is a high power distance society.
Kuwait is a fairly feminine culture. Kuwait is not a society
driven entirely by economic competition and success. Rather,
there is a large focus on family and companionship. Work is not
nearly as emphasized as free time, leisure, and enjoyment.
Within the work place, support and cooperation are more valued
than maximum success and profit.
Kuwait has recently shifted from a short-term oriented
society to a long-term oriented society. The majority of
Kuwait’s economic success is due to mass oil production, and
the economy was almost completely dependent on oil towards
the end of the twentieth century. While the economy is still
largely dependent on the production of oil, expatriate labor, and
imported goods, Kuwait is slowly beginning to acknowledging
and starting to address the problem of economic dependency; it
is shifting from a completely short-term oriented society to a
more long-term oriented society.
Kuwait is an indulgent culture. Kuwait is one of the
wealthiest societies in the world because of their mass oil
production and strategic location on the Arabian Peninsula.
With this abundance of wealth, Kuwaitis are able to indulge and
enjoy a high standard of living. According to my friend, Khaled,
name brands are emphasized in Kuwait culture, similar to how
they are in the United States. He frequently shops and wears
famous brands, such as Gucci, Chanel, and Rolex. This is not
frowned upon; rather, it is seen as a symbol of status in Kuwait
culture.
It is clearly demonstrated through Hofstede’s dimensions
that Kuwait is a multi-dimensional society. Certain components
in Kuwait society are extremely modern and progressive, while
other components are resistant to major change. Nevertheless,
Kuwait remains a very powerful and impactful country on the
global scale, no matter their geographic size. Kuwait stands out
as an economically prosperous and culturally progressive

7. country in the Middle East.
References Page
Bailey, E. (2016). Kuwait. 1.
CIA World Fact Book (2016). Kuwait. 413-416.
Ellis, M., & MacDonald, H. M. (1982). The oil economy of
Kuwait. Social science quarterly. University of Texas Press,
63(1), 180.
Kuwait: The Race for Economic Diversification. (2016).
Foreign Affairs, 95(6), 120a.
Mahmoud, M. A., & Alajmi, A. F. (2010). Quantitative
assessment of energy conservation due to public awareness
campaigns using neural networks. Applied Energy, 87(1), 220-
228.
Samovar, L.A., Porter, R.E., McDaniel, E.R., & Roy, C.S.
(2013). Communication between cultures. Boston, MA:

8. Wadsworth.
Tariq, S., Goddard, C. A., & Elkum, N. (2013). Barriers in
participant recruitment of diverse ethnicities in the state of
Kuwait. International Journal for Equity in Health, 12(1), 93
99.
Running head: JAMAICAN CULTURE 1
2
JAMAICAN CULTURE
Jamaican Culture
Rayanna Boston
COMM 263-630

9. Jamaican Culture
Nestled into the beautiful Caribbean is a small country known
for its lively natives and bright colors. In Jamaica, the teaching
of tradition along with a push for modernism has plagued the
culture with disagreements in government and society. Through
the decades, indigenous Jamaicans have attempted to preserve
their national heritage through song and cuisine. Modern
popular culture in Jamaica demonstrates the evidence of
struggle through reformation and movement. Jamaica today is
rich with heritage, the arts, and tourism, and Hofstede’s
Cultural Dimensions are correlated with its journey to
modernity.
The immense history within the Jamaican nation is a large
part of why the indigenous peoples strive to support their
heritage. Jamaica began as a colonial entity ruled by the British
(Gray, 1991). According to Gray, once deemed as an
independent nation in Central America, Jamaica began its
transformation into an authoritarian democracy in which
elections for leaders as well as policy took place. This
transformation lead to the modern government system in
Jamaica today. Once democracy was established, a social
reformation began in the late twentieth century, known as the
Rastafarian Movement.
According to Savishinsky (1994), Rastafari is most
prominently supported by the black minority youth as an avenue
to keep African and native ties alive. Through this movement,

10. the youth attempt to distance themselves from societies ruled by
modern whites (Savishinsky). Rastas do not agree with the
corrupt white bias within their societies, thus pushing for a
restored minority heritage. Supporters of the Rasta Movement
also are very resistant to change. However, Jamaican culture as
a whole has welcomed the Rastafarian Movement and is
accepting of the diversity it brings. This is a reflection of Geert
Hofstede’s cultural dimension of Uncertainty Avoidance.
According to ITIM International (2016), Jamaican culture tends
to be relaxed in nature and is open to diversity within society.
Often, differences are encouraged and beliefs are flexible.
A second prominent component within Jamaican culture is
the importance of the arts. Music, cuisine, and color all reflect
the vibrancy of Jamaica. Jamaican music is loved by natives and
tourists alike because “it doesn’t quite sound like anything else,
when it arouses emotions that no other type of music does, when
it gives us something we can’t get anywhere else,” (Chang and
Chen, 1998, p. 2). Of the four major forms of music in Jamaica
including ska, rocksteady, reggae, and dancehall, the most
popular is reggae, which became the most prominent form in the
1960s (Chang and Chen). Jamaican music styles are typically
differentiated by a specific combination of drums; also, the
pitch and volume of the bass used in the music changes with
form. Chang and Chen describe reggae as a music with an
“accented subsidiary beat” reflecting the West Indian styles of
music (p. 2).
Reggae music is very important to the natives of Jamaica
as it allows them to keep some heritage in their culture.
According to Chang and Chen, Jamaican popular music tends to
mix the rhythms of traditional African music with the melodies
of European styles. The authors state, “Reggae remains every
bit as emotionally important to its [modern] audience as folk
music was to their ancestors,” (Chang and Chen, 1998, p. 4).
Through reggae music, language and stories from the native
population’s ancestors are kept alive. Also, natives are able to
express a lifestyle and mindset through their music. The authors

11. also state that reggae is also one of the last few folk music
forms left in the world today.
Public entertainment is a large part of Jamaica’s music
culture. This could be why so many individuals recall seeing
natives playing drums and other instruments in various places
while visiting Jamaica. Not only do natives enjoy entertaining
their visitors, they also share music culture with each other.
Dancehalls became popular in Jamaica after the introduction of
large speaker systems. Chang and Chen include a quote from a
native, Clement Dodd, about his experiences with dancehalls:
“He recalls, ‘There were [fourteen] dancehalls on Maxfield
Avenue alone. All those guys who hustled at the wharf used to
come to those dances,’” (p. 19). The authors continue by
describing how people came from all surrounding
neighborhoods to participate in the dances and how dancehalls
in close proximity to one another competed for attendance.
Jamaica’s cuisine is another component of culture that
attracts many visitors and natives alike. The heritage of the
country can be found within its cuisine and the food tells the
history of the people. The cuisine is known for its unique
flavors and bright colors incorporated into meals. What
differentiates Jamaica’s cuisine from its Caribbean neighbors’ is
the prominence of agriculture in the country. With agriculture,
imported food is not a priority and native fruits, vegetables, and
spices are widely used (DeMers, 1998). The author also states
that it could have been the fertile lands and warm, tropical
climate that brought people to Jamaica. From this came a unique
cuisine full of bold flavors and colors that is memorable to
many.
In addition to fruits and vegetables, livestock is a large
part of Jamaica’s cuisine. DeMers explains that dairy and beef
cattle along with pork are grown locally and incorporated into
the food. Natives are known for their ways of preparing their
pork. A unique process of its own, Jamaicans barbeque or “jerk”
their meat (DeMers). DeMers further explains that a variety of
breads and spices are also locally grown in the St. Elizabeth

12. area of Jamaica.
Meals throughout the day are largely determined by the
area in which one lives. For example, breakfast for farmers
includes a cup of local tea followed by a type of fish (usually
salted cod) and yams (DeMers). Country and town lunches
typically share recipes and commonalities of favorite dishes.
DeMers explains that these consist of stewed peas, curried goat,
fish marinated in lime juice, brown stewed fish, and fried fish.
Side dishes include yams, rice, and bananas. Dinner typically
consists of the gathering of friends and family in a more relaxed
setting. The author describes meals to include fricasseed
chicken or spicy roast beef with sides of fried plantains, string
beans, and carrots. For every meal, there is a variety of drinks
to choose from, including soda, lemonade, water, and rum.
Jamaicans’ tendency to gather with friends and family
every day for dinner reflects their low score in Hofstede’s
Individualism Dimension. Jamaica is considered a collectivistic
society, placing importance on the closeness and well-being of
family and extended relationships (ITIM International). By
having dinner with family and friends daily, Jamaicans are able
to build upon the well-being of their group and the relationships
that are most important to them.
A final major component of modern Jamaican culture is
tourism’s effect on the economy. According to McCatty and
Serju, “In Jamaica, the tourism industry is the largest foreign
exchange earner, generating in excess of $1.0 billion per
[year],” (2006, p. 1). This is partly due to the country’s
beautiful beaches, tropical weather, and rich heritage. The
authors explain that Jamaica ranks fourth among the top few
countries in the Caribbean regarding tourism. Also connected to
the tourism industry are the food and hospitality industries,
allowing for a larger economic growth altogether. Stated by
McCatty and Serju, the tourism industry is expected to grow in
coming years:
Jamaica’s tourism industry, in particular, is projected to grow
by 7.9 percent per [year] over the next 5 years compared to an

13. average of 2.4 percent in the previous 5 years. This is expected
to be facilitated by the construction of 12,000 new hotel rooms
that would increase the current room stock by some 50 per cent.
Expansion on such a scale will have a significant direct and
indirect impact on the rest of the Jamaican economy. (p. 3)
In general, the tourism industry allows individuals with low
skillsets to find employment: “The ability of the tourism
industry to generate new employment opportunities, especially
among the low-skilled group, makes the industry a critical
component in the country’s development,” (McCatty and Serju,
p. 3).
The tourism industry first began in the nineteenth century as the
government of Jamaica signed the Jamaica Hotels Law into
action (McCatty and Serju). The authors explain that the law
was passed in an effort to encourage development of the tourism
industry with the construction of hotels. A second Jamaica
Hotels Law was passed in 1904. This law encouraged
individuals to build hotels with forty or more rooms by offering
tax exemptions as well as free materials for construction
(McCatty and Serju).
Tourism in Jamaica is primarily focused in the areas of Negril,
Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, and Port Antonio (Stupart and
Shipley, 2012). This is prominently due to the warm climate,
blue water, and white beaches found in these areas. These
regions continue the outlook on Jamaica as a tropical paradise
known for its sun, sand, and sea. Natives are able to enjoy these
amenities privately and in everyday life. Also, Jamaicans find
identity in their country through the tropical environment.
Natives enjoy sharing their cultural heritage with visitors in an
attempt to enlighten them with their bold and bright history.
Jamaica is primarily known for its white beaches, blue water,
and tropical climate. However, there is much more to Jamaican
culture than its environment. Known for bold heritage,
Jamaicans enjoy sharing their roots with one another along with
travelers. Scoring low in Uncertainty Avoidance, Jamaicans

14. accept their differences from others and embrace sharing their
heritage. Jamaican music is home to a variety of forms and is a
creative outlet to share heritage, along with an opportunity to
associate with fellow natives. Cuisine in Jamaica is known for
its bold and spicy flavors along with its traditional and organic
components. Meeting with close friends and family daily
reflects Jamaicans’ collectivistic attitudes, striving for strong
relationships and the well-being of their close acquaintances.
Tourism in Jamaica is an enormous contributor to its economic
success and a common occupation shared by a variety of
natives. Jamaican culture, bold and bright, is home to a plethora
of welcoming individuals who are proud of their heritage and
excited to share it.
References
Chang, K. O. & Chen, W. (1998). Reggae roots: The story of
Jamaican music. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press.
Country comparison: Jamaica. (2016). Retrieved from
https://geert-hofstede.com/jamaica.html
DeMers, J. (1998). The food of Jamaica: Authentic recipes from
the jewel of the Caribbean. Boston, MA: Periplus Editions (HK)
LTD.
Gray, O. (1991). Radicalism and social change in Jamaica,

15. 1960-1972. Knoxville, TN: The University of Tennessee Press.
McCatty, M. & Serju, P. (2006). Tourism, economic growth &
employment. Unpublished paper. Bank of Jamaica.
Savishinsky, N. J. (1994). Transnational popular culture and the
global spread of the Jamaican
Rastafarian movement. New West Indian Guide, 68(3), pp. 259-
281.
Stupart, C. A. & Shipley, R. (2012) Jamaica's tourism: sun, sea
and sand to cultural heritage. Journal of Tourism Insights, 3(1),
pp. 1-19.
COMM 263 Fall 2016 Culture Paper Grading Rubric
ITEMPOINT VALUE
TITLE PAGE: 5 points
Running head/TITLE 1 point
Appropriate page number 1 point
Proper information listed (title, name, course)1 point
Proper APA style followed (font, spacing, etc.) 2
points
PAPER: 85 points
Introduction reveals topic focus & gains attention 10 points
Paper cites at least three sources in-text using APA 20 points
Paper effectively refers to sources when needed 20

16. points
Paper flows well and discusses topic thoroughly 20
points
Concluding paragraph developed effectively 10
points
Paper avoids contractions and follows paragraph rules 2
points
Proper APA font, size, spacing, etc. 3 points
REFERENCES PAGE: 10
points
Proper APA style followed 5
points
Three acceptable sources listed 5
points
TOTAL: 100 points