Tribal solidarity is an important feature in the national election for Kuwaiti parliament as tribes practice it as a concrete reality through their competition with each other or with other Kuwaiti groups. By utilizing participant observation and applying the theory of interpretive anthropology, this study interprets how and why tribal members demonstrate such solidarity. In this sense, the thesis concentrates on interpreting the meanings of social actions and thoughts of these tribal members toward their collectivities and, then, on what kinds of benefits these tribal collectivities may provide. The study also indicates the interrelationships between tribal solidarity and other sociocultural systems (political, economic, psychological, social systems, etc.), which together show how tribal people modify and justify their actions and thoughts to benefit from their solidarity in the national election for parliament and other social contexts. In conclusion, Tribal solidarity is a part of large symbolic system, the Bedouin culture, which exemplifies a historical and social attachment between one and his tribe. It also reflects such political and economic benefits for members of a tribe in their daily cooperation with one another. / Department of Anthropology

In this study, I focus on the changing gender relationships between women and men and on women’s political rights in Kuwaiti society in particular. Specifically, I measure Kuwaiti citizens’ attitudes toward Kuwaiti women in political roles after Kuwaiti women gained their political rights, especially after May 16, 2005. Gender relationships continue to change, and in order to understand these changes it is important to examine the current cultural context in which they are occurring. This context includes political change, cultural development, the impact of the media and economic systems, as well as changing laws, religions, socialization, and globalization. All of these factors influence gender relations in Kuwaiti society. This study focuses specifically on the way that political ideology and perceptions about gender roles impact attitudes toward political efficacy for women in Kuwait. This study focuses on Kuwaiti citizens’ attitudes and perceptions about women’s political rights and changing gender relationships in Kuwaiti society. The study uses survey data based on a random sampling of students at Kuwait University, along with the snowball technique for the general population, taken from Kuwaiti employees in public businesses. The data measure the attitudes of both of these populations towards Kuwaiti women’s political rights. / Department of Sociology

No description available.