The article reviews the impact of globalization on national identity, population dynamics and the supposed national identity management approaches utilized with emphasis on the Gulf Corporation Council (GCC) countries. The article clearly articulates a comprehensive background of the GCC countries referring to their development ethos and history. The significance and challenges of globalization are introduced and argued subtly to enhance understanding of the article. The desire for economic expansion and labor demands necessitated globalization but created long-standing social challenges in most countries. It is emphasized in the article that GCC is among the most affected regions globally with the identity crisis. The study is well structured into different parts using convenient headings to underpin the important factors that enable understanding of the source of the identity crises and the measures taken for management. Both the aim and the objective of the article are not stated and remain to be implied by the reader. It is worth noting, that the article incorporates the national identity crisis with the GCC countries that include Oman, Kuwait, United Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain as well as other regions globally.
Towards the analysis of the identity crisis issue, the author has utilized the social identity theory. The theory states that self-definition emanates from societal categorizations of people due to power contrasts, status, class, and prestige. Further, the author has indicated the name of the theorist who coined the social identity theory as Tajfel. In addition, the author has re-defined the social identity theory to suit the particular context of the GCC. The author notes that social identity theory is the part of an individual’s self-concept originating from their knowledge of belonging to a social group pegged with the values and emotions associated with the implied membership. The author also indicts the contributions of other authors like Castells to strengthen the case of an identity crisis. Also, the author has indicated the significance of utilizing the social identity theory to underscore the national identity crisis facing GCC. The author asserts that the national identity crisis in GCC has been a consistent prominent issue since independence. The theoretical perspectives used by the author comprehensively explain the context of the GCC tracing through their struggles and policy changes concerning the national identity issue. The theoretical approaches utilized by the author adequately provide the framework for the analysis of the national identity threat that faces GCC.
The study is very important in both research and policy formulation. Globalization is a contemporary issue that affects all nations globally. The realities associated with globalization, as noted in the article, threaten the indigenous structures that have previously acted as national identities of countries. Further, international bodies are consistently putting pressure on many countries to grant foreigners their human rights. According to the author, the struggle of the GCC countries has been an issue since their independence. As such, the psyche about national identity is alive in the minds of the indigenous people of GCC. Despite the existence of the national identity, the reality of foreigners outnumbering locals threatens national identity in GCC more than ever. Notably, the implementation of the various programs as noted by the author, would be evaluated for their efficacy. Lessons learned from the GCC context can be replicated in other countries where national identity is threatened by globalization infiltration. There is some aspect of the study that would have been changed by the author. The author would have included the reactions of the international community and the foreigners living in GCC about the implemented national identity management approaches. At its current state, the paper hinges on the side of the benefits likely to be accrued by the GCC by successfully implementing the national identity management programs. The section that covers the approaches implemented is narrow and would have been expanded to inform decisions in a more balanced manner.
The article lacks any description of methodology. The author has not identified the type of methodology used for research like qualitative and quantitative. It can only be implied from the background information that the region covered by the study is GCC, which includes Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Moreover, the data collection criteria have not been indicated in the study. Additionally, the study has not indicated any ethical approvals. Research study requires ethical approval from relevant institutional authorities like University Ethical Committee that approves the intention and conduct of a study. Similarly, there is no limitation indicated by the author. According to Roller and Lavrakas (2015), the methodology is an important part of a research study that outlines how data collection was done and analyzed. Lack of a proper methodology outlined manifests lack of proper organization as expected of a good article.
The author delves deeply into both historical and current approaches used towards solving the identity issue. The author provides adequate debate about the insecurity of the GCC indigenous people about the possibility of assimilation. Some of the policies associated with national identity, as pointed out in the study, include policy formulation agenda. The robustness of the constitutional changes, as noted by the author, held much hope. The author notes that the supposed policy changes would adequately address economic, ethical and cultural issues. The author explicitly reviews both sides of the argument for policy changes. As the author notes, while some of the policies are aimed towards regulating the entry and long stay of foreigners in the GCC, the high demand for labor puts the policy changes in a precarious position. It is difficult to balance the economic gain derived from foreign labor and the impact on national identity. As such, the author has carefully selected and utilized strategic approaches for the management of national identity that abound delineated objectives taking into consideration the desired mix of other alternative opinions. The study presents results from various studies that present a theoretical background to the concept of national identity. The results from the intensive literature review have been used effectively. Further, the author has incorporated diagrams to elaborate on the results of the approaches used by GCC to manage the identity crisis that affects the region.
The significance of the study as pointed out by the author, cannot be underestimated. The global agenda for increased economic development necessitates the demand for countries to develop growth strategies. The global labor force gets diverse each day. Most governments are grappling with issues related to the identification of their citizens and the general population for adequate planning. The universality of the study implications and the ability to replicate the results to many countries makes the study very significant. The study provides strategies and approaches that can be used by different countries globally affected by globalization issues. The paper stimulates knowledge regarding the best approaches to be implemented towards the preservation of national identity. This is because different cultures brought together lead to the emergence of new values, attitudes, and norms that may affect the existing national identities. Notably, identity relates to a way of belief that is associated with both emotions and attachment that has been developed for long periods. Lack of adequate implementation of identity management approaches could lead to assimilation and erosion of superior identities with inferior characteristics that could adversely affect countries. As noted by the author, identity management system could entail identification that discriminates all legitimate and ascertains true identities that can be used to enable proper planning of people within a country. Hence, the study is highly significant to guide policy formulation and decision making towards the protection of national identities by countries.
As noted above, this study would have been improved in some areas to make it better. Some of the areas that would have been better with a little improved include the inclusion and identification of a clear research approach and methodology. For instance, there is no mention of the research methodology utilized for the study. It is always important to include facts relating to data collection, ethics, selection of participants, and limitations in an evidence-based research study. On the other hand, the author utilized purpose and objectives that could easily be deciphered from the onset of the article. Similarly, the author has undertaken to underscore a theoretical approach that adequately defines the aspect of social identity as the central theme in the study. The author also delves into the analysis of the various approaches used in the management of national identity within and beyond GCC. For these reasons, I can recommend the study for use towards deducing solutions to national identity reality as orchestrated by globalization.
References
Al-Khouri, A. M. (2012). Population growth and government modernisation efforts. – International Journal of Research in Management & Technology, 2(1).
Roller, M. R., & Lavrakas, P. J. (2015). Applied qualitative research design: A total quality framework approach. Guilford Publications.
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