Prior to the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq on August 2, 1990 and the ensuing Persian Gulf War, Kuwait was a typical middle-eastern Muslim nation. The lives of the citizens were ruled by their religion, as was the country as a whole. However, since the U.S. and other Allied countries came to their aid during the Gulf War in January of 1991, Kuwaiti society has slowly started to evolve.
Kuwait prior to US influence
On the surface, the Constitution of Kuwait, written in 1962, reads much like the Constitution of the United States of America. It provides its citizens with certain freedoms, such as freedom of speech, thought, and religion; and it promotes equality, justice and liberty.
However, Kuwait, prior to 1990, was similar to the USA prior to the Civil War.
The Constitution was understood to protect Kuwaiti men. With only 45% of the population being Kuwaiti, and there being 1.5 men to each woman, out of a population of 2,505,559, the Constitution protected and afforded rights to approximately 750,000 people.
The changes begin
Since the US and other Allied troops arrived in Kuwait in 1991 to defend them from Iraq, there has been a continued Western presence in Kuwait. The evidence of this is everywhere, from the Chilli’s and McDonald’s restaurants that line the streets to the women who can now walk the streets without covering their hair and faces.
The biggest difference in Kuwait, however, is one that cannot be seen by walking down the streets or even by visiting the homes of the people of Kuwait; it is how the Kuwaiti people think and feel.
Now, almost 20 years after the end of the Gulf War, progress and change are moving slowly in Kuwait, but they ARE happening. More and more people are leaning toward democracy, and 90 years after women’s suffrage occurred in the US, women were granted the rights to vote and run for office in Kuwait. Women are no longer required to cover themselves in public, though many choose to do so and the young people in Kuwait are more often found attending private schools and attending Universities.
The future of Kuwait
While many of the older citizens of Kuwait may feel that these changes are a detriment to Kuwait society, the majority of the younger generations disagree. As these younger generations grow to take over and run the country, I think that more, similar changes will occur at a much faster rate.
Sources:
Katz, F. M. (2006, January 17). The Arab world: a region of paradoxes. Common Ground News , pp. 12-14.
Keegan, W. F. (1992, January/February). Destruction of the Taino. Archaeology , pp. 51-56.
Kuwait. (2007, July). Retrieved March 29, 2010, from History Central
Kuwait Constitution. (1962, January 11). Retrieved March 20, 2010, from Embassy of the State of Kuwait
Kuwaiti Women’s 1st Election Day . (2006). Retrieved March 26, 2010, from International Museum of Women
Stephnie Schaap-Jones - I am a stay at home mom, Army wife and full time student. My areas of expertise are as diverse as my interests. I have worked in graphic ...
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