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Introduction
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Historical context
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Modern Architecture in Gulf countries
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Modern Politics
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Modern Culture
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Modern economy
- · Conclusion
Introduction
Modernity is the wave by which progress is seen to be coming, Gulf countries said their word and kept going towards a new modern future. Many would think of Gulf as backward countries that merely generate money from oil. However, getting deeper and deeper into their details ends up killing that assumption. In fact, Gulf states are rising powers held out by their unique kind of modernity. This article is to track the notion of modernity through different aspects in the Gulf states.
The Historical context of Gulf countries’ modernity: From invaded to invaded to liberated!
Our story
has started taking place on the rubble of the Othman Empire, which is referred
to as ‘’The sick man’’. With Egypt being invaded by Napoleon in 1798, it was
conspicuous that this empire will not stand for long. Despite all the attempts
of modernizing the empire, its status as well as its sovereignty kept
decreasing. And, day by day the empire was being stripped out of its colonies,
especially the European ones.
The Great Arab Revolt (1916-1918) was also of
an essential role in the abolishment of the Ottoman empire and a supposed
turning point into modernity in the Arab world.
This revolt was the Mideastern theatre of the First World War. That is
because the ottoman Empire was in alliance with Germany. This means that the
British as a part of the alliances should support any power in the middle east
against the dying empire. The British, therefore, supported Sharif Hussein in
his rebellion against the Turks, which ended in the win of the Arabs over the
‘’Sick man’’. Arabs at that time thought that their goal of independence was
achieved, but no, the Europeans conquered one Arab country after another in
accordance with Sykes-Picot.
By the end of 1971, the Gulf Arab countries so
as most of the Arab nations could gain their independence due to different
conditions within the international context. The Gulf countries had most of
their territories colonised by the British, who after WWII had no potential to
keep their troops in Arabia. The British Labour government, hence, let Gulf
countries free to declare their independence, following the borders lined up by
the British during colonisation.
The independence of gulf countries was the
marking point to the beginning of their kind of modernity. UAE started shaping
its nowadays state by the unification of its different Emirates under one flag,
whilst the other Gulf emirates were run each with its Sheikh or Amir.
Modern Architecture in Gulf countries
With these emirates striving to catch up with
European Architecture, they intentionally or non-intentionally erased the
Arabian touch of architecture. Their cities were coming closer and closer to
the European style. Even the architects themselves were usually Europeans.
Neglecting the sense of identity, Gulf countries succeed to build magnificent
modern new cities such as Dubai, Riyadh, Doha…
To illustrate, we can compare some Gulf cities
to those of the west. As we see in fig1, which represents one street from Dubai
and another from New York City, there is no significant difference between the
two. Means that the structure of streets and even the style of building itself
is completely western in Dubai. One might even say that the architecture in
Gulf is more western than in many western countries.
However, there is still only one Architect feature which marks the Gulf as any other Islamic country, it is ‘’The mosque’’. Mosques in Gulf were built to be highly modern, meanwhile, they had a very clear touch of Arab Architecture. Saudi Arabia was the leading country in this so-called ‘’Mosques Modernisation’’, through its Al Haram innovative projects since the middle and end of the 20th century (Fig2). The Grand Mosque in Kuwait has also spread the notion of homogeneity between the modern and the traditional. This notion seems to be the driving power of progress towards modernity in the Gulf..
Fig2
Under that notion, there comes some Arab architects
who brilliantly mixed modernity with tradition in their projects. One of those
is the Saudi female Sumaya Dabagh whose designs were rewarded by the UNISCO
itself, such as the magnificent Mleiha’s Archaeological Centre in the UAE (fig3).
The Saudi woman was not the only brilliant architect around, there are dozens,
such as Ibrahim Jaidah (Burj Al Fardan), Sam Angawi (Who focused more on
preserving heritage with a modern touch) …
Gulf modernity in politics
All of the states taking part in the Gulf Cooperation Council
seem to have the same political system, yet they have got slight differences. Political
system in those countries is essentially based on tribalism following to the regime
of Sheikhdoms. This system is initially based on each emirate’s Sheikh having
an inherited eligibility to power.
Gulf states can be generally referred to as monarchies.
More precisely, their political system differs from absolute monarchy, constitutional,
to federal. The first kind is followed by two kingdoms which are Saudi Arabia
and Oman. While, the constitutional one is the dominant in the case of Qatar
Kuwait and Bahrain. On the other hand, the UAE remains the only one to have a federal
monarchy, which is by itself an absolute monarchy in each emirate within the
Emirates Union.
Gulf countries do consider that their
political system goes hand in hand with modernity. That can be seen through
different innovation attempts to more ‘’Trias Politica’’, separation of powers.
However, according to different international organisations, Gulf countries remain
blacklisted especially by ‘’The Freedom House’’.
Gulf
countries’ Modern Culture
As it is for all the new-born states, there is an ongoing
discussion between modernity and tradition in the Gulf. These Sheikhdoms are
trying to implement their financial power to crystalise a magnificent type of
modernity. The latter is based on utilising modernity for the sake of
tradition, ending up with traditional but progressive culture.
Costumes are the most
significant of all in the Gulf emirates’ culture. Bisht, Kandura, and Shemagh
are worn by men and mostly Abaya by women even in the workplace. That is to
say, even in areas that are considered to be modern folk keep shaping a
homogenous mixture which produces their paradigm of modernity.
Similarly, Gulf
cuisine stands on tradition circulated by modernity. Gulf countries follow all
the modern manners to develop their traditional cuisine. Classical dishes are
being cocked and made in modern ways often. Just as Thereed, the very classical
Gulf dish, has got its manners of preparing .innovated.
Modernising
Economy in the Arabian Gulf
A quantum leap was the prevailing matter in the contemporary
Gulf economy. Oil could completely transform Sheikhdoms from small tribal
economies to international ones. This was initiated by British companies and
their treaties of oil exploitation. Britain had a clear impact on the mode of
the Gulf economy. It was the one moving it closer and closer to the free
market.
Stock markets are of
clear significance to the progress witnessed in these emirates´ economies.
Dubai Financial Market, Tadawul, and Qatar Stock Exchange are transmitting to
what extent the Gulf economy is open and ongoing in the path of modernity. Not
only that, but those markets are stated to have effects on the international
market itself.
Despite oil being the
main source of gain, Gulf countries are leaning towards economical diversity
through various projects. Gulf states have initially relied on external
investments as a new area to exploit their money. Qatar led off those
investments in sports, trying to buy more shares in famous clubs and having
different partnerships with them. UAE and KSA have followed the same path in
the European stadiums. Additionally, new
projects of energy were taking part by the emirates. The most famous of which
is Dewa Green Hydrogen by UAE, Helios Green fuels in KSA…
Conclusion
In
a nutshell, Gulf countries could erase the myth of unique western modernity
through their success in different fields. Gulf created its paradigm of
modernity. A magnificent homogenous mixture between ancientness and modernity.
This gives hope that modernity and identity can shape each other and are not
specifically enemies. Thus, each nation can move forward relying on what
matches it best.