Journal of the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Studies

• Published by Scientific Publication Journal – Kuwait University.
• Acting Editor Chief Prof. Abdulaziz Gh. AlGhanim.
• Contributors are academic faculty members from various universities and faculties in both Arab and English and French.
• It's newly published the Journal No. (175) for the month of OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER 2019. It includes Ten academic researches about different issues :

First Research : Omani Society's Attitudes Toward the Pattern of Family Arranged Marriages: A Pilot Study.
Prof. Muneer A. Karadsheh - Shaikha H. Al-Madailwi

     This study aims to investigate the pattern of family arranged marriages in Omani society. It also sets out to determine the changes and transformations that this type of pattern has gone through because of the circumstances that have taken place in the society from various perspectives. In order to enrich our understanding of this topic, an in-depth study, regarding the sudden changes that affect such a social phenomenon and its related consequences, needs to be conducted. Furthermore, the society's responses to this phenomenon depend on the study sample's features and the different social, economic and cultural backgrounds they come from. The participants in this pilot study were 921 male and female Omanis whose ages range from 18 to 60. The sampling procedure is purposive. The results of the analysis indicate that Omanis do not prefer traditional arranged marriages. Moreover, the findings reveal that there is no variance among the participants' attitudes towards arranged marriages in terms of gender, level of education, place of residence, age and monthly income.

Second Research : The Phenomenon of Ethnocentrism in the Poetry and Sirah of Antarah Bin Shaddad.
Dr. Hessa A. Alrifai

     Despite the fact that the father of Antarah Bin Shaddad was the chief of Abs tribe, he suffered from slavery, discrimination, and low profile. This was because of his black mother. Consequently, this attitude was manifested in a series of references in his poems. This paper deals with the influence of Ethnocentrism on both Antarah's Sirah and his verse. The concept of Ethnocentrism, albeit recently dealt with western writers, is deeply rooted in old Arab traditions and classical Arabic poetry.
     In the pre-Islamic era, ethnocentrism was practiced in two forms: the first was against members of other tribes or members, while the second was against members of the same tribe who were the products of slave mothers. Antarah, however, succeeded in winning his freedom as he became a well-known knight and a hero, besides his poetic gift which qualified him to be one of the celebrity poets of Muallaqat. Despite all this, Antarah did not achieve his goal in marrying his beloved cousin Ablah because of his black color. Through self-exaltation (Fakhr) Antarah, however, compensated for the low profile of his mother and his blackness by his endorsement of undefeatable courage and nobility, in addition to his love themes (Ghazal), which mainly revolved around his beloved cousin Ablah.

Third Research : The Legal Framework of the Rule of Non-Splitting of Mortgage in the Kuwaiti Civil Code: A Comparative Study.
Dr. Khaled A. Aldhafiri

     The Kuwaiti legislator dealt with the rule of non-splitting of mortgage in article 982 of the Civil Code, which states that "every part of the mortgaged real estate or property guarantees all the debt and every part of the debt is secured by all the real estate or mortgaged property". If that rule provides an effective security by maintaining the creditor's full rights over the mortgaged asset regardless of its value or the value of the secured debt, the rule of non-splitting of mortgage may, at the same time, have effects that may limit the transfer of funds and their circulation. Therefore, it is important to address the importance of the rule of non-splitting of mortgage for the creditor and how it could be mitigated. This is to be done in light of the legislative development defined by French law, with a view to creating a kind of balanced security, especially in the case of a mortgage that does not really correspond to the value of the secured debt.

Forth research : Organizational Citizenship Behavior: A Case Study of Faculty at Imam Islamic University.
Dr. Khalid A. Althobiti

     The study aimed to identify the degree of organizational citizenship behavior among faculty members in the College of Social Sciences, Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University, Saudi Arabia. It examined five aspects: altruism, good conscience, courtesy, civility, and sportsmanship. The study followed the descriptive method survey by using a questionnaire distributed to a population of 288 faculty members, of which 193 completed questionnaires were returned. The degree of organizational citizenship behavior was found to be "very large" among the participants with the following descending: good conscience, courtesy, sportsmanship, civility, and altruism. The study recommends strengthening the affiliation among faculty and improving the performance of their work, as well as consolidating their ethical values to better stimulate them for the practice of organizational citizenship behavior.

Fifth research : The Right of Women to Occupy Judicial Positions between Kuwaiti and International Laws.
Dr. Deymah N. Alweqyan

     All global constitutions and laws have adopted the principle of equality of rights and duties between men and women. They also allow both genders to assume public and leadership positions in their States. International covenants and treaties have explicitly affirmed the right to equality and non-discrimination based on gender. The importance of the judiciary indicates that the basis of society depends on the justice it represents and the people's tendency to recall their rights. Thus, the selection of judges of high competence and good morality is important towards giving them the power to adjudicate properly people's issues and rights. Accordingly, many countries around the world, as well as several Arab countries, have tended to appoint women as judges in the judiciary in light of international laws. Some countries, however, have refrained from appointing women to this position because of the jurisprudential debate on women's rights based on some aspects of Islamic law. Kuwait is one of the countries that have prevented women from taking up the judiciary by restricting this domain to men in violation of the Constitution's right to equality and the right of women to work in public office. The ban also violates Kuwaiti domestic law and judicial provisions that explicitly state equality in employment and non-discrimination in public office based on gender. The provisions of the ban in Kuwait also contravene all international conventions and treaties ratified by Kuwait and the obligations thereof before the international community.

Sixth research : Geopolitical Reasons for Terrorism in Kuwait: A Security Perspective.
Dr. Yousef M. Alyaqout

     The geographical location in the far north of the Arabian Gulf and the common border with Iraq have been suffering from a security vacuum for years, which has led to the emergence of very dangerous terrorist organizations during these areas. The terrorist organizations are largely instigated by Iranian Revolutionary Guards, mainly represented by the Quds Force, which in turn is motivated by a political drive to control this region by spreading the ideology of exporting revolution and recruiting young people based on sectarianism. A number of other reasons for terrorism in Kuwait are also addressed in this study.

Seventh research : Teachers' Perceptions Towards Implementing ISTE Standards for Students in General Education Schools: A Case Study of Kuwait.
Dr. Ammar H. Safar - Naser H. Agha

     This study aimed to identify the extent of agreement among teachers in the State of Kuwait on the application of educational technology standards for students, which was published by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), in Kuwait's general education schools (i.e., government and private schools). It also sought to reveal the effect of some independent variables on the agreement level. A descriptive research design was used. A stratified random sample of 383 teachers participated electronically in this research at the end of the second semester of 2017/2018 academic year. The findings reveal that the level of agreement among the teachers regarding the integration of ISTE Standards for Students in Kuwait's public education schools is "high". The results also show the existence of some significant differences among the constituents with regard to some independent variables, e.g. qualification and educational stage. However, the overall analysis of participants' responses indicates an overwhelming "high" agreement degree among all constituents in favor of the application of these standards.

Ninth research in English  : Architecture of Food: A Study on the Impact of Food Malls in Kuwait.
Dr. Yousef A. Al-Haroun

     Food and architecture have not often been discussed together despite their intimate connections. They both produce creative pieces of art and share a technical side that relies on careful measurements and aesthetic proportions. Yet, for the most part, many contemporary researchers have overlooked them. This paper intends to better understand how food and architecture are related by examining Kuwait's rising food culture scene as a case study. Over the past decade, the phenomenon of the 'food mall' has emerged and grown rapidly around Kuwait City. The architecture in question caters only for restaurants, cafإ's, and anything related to food. Many of these buildings have risen among residential neighborhoods. In order to understand this trend and its implications for people and their built environment, this study employs questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The findings show clear impact of globalization on Kuwait's food consumption patterns and the architectural landscape. Thus, the food malls are perceived as entertainment in a country with limited venues for recreation and have used interesting architectural concepts such as shipping containers, lakes, dancing fountains, and gardens to lure customers. As a result, the bond between food and architecture has led to unhealthy eating habitats and shifting lifestyles among Kuwaiti youth. This paper contends that a more sustainable and balanced approach to the outdoor food design and experience is necessary to elevate people towards a more sustainable and healthy quality of life.

Tenth research in English : Prefabricated Housing Units and  Interior Design Priorities for Kuwaiti Citizens.
Dr. Fawzi A. Al-Zamil

     Prefabricated buildings are built in factory-like setting and then transported to and assembled in the defied location rather than being constructed on the site itself. They have many advantages, including speed and cost of construction and reduced environmental impact. As such, prefabricated houses are a potential solution to Kuwait's long-standing and growing housing problems - if people can be persuaded to live in them.
     This paper describes research to investigate Kuwaiti people's attitudes toward prefabricated houses and their requirements for their interior design. The results of a questionnaire administered to a representative sample of Kuwaiti adults show that there is a general lack of understanding about the nature and benefits of prefabricated buildings, and in particular the potential for their interiors to be customized to their owners' whishes. Many indicated that they would consider living in a prefabricated house if it met their requirements for a conformable, well-designed and stylish home.
     Given the general lack of knowledge about prefabricated houses, the authors conclude that the government has a role to play in raising the Kuwaiti people's awareness of the benefits of modern and well-designed prefabricated houses.
                                                             

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