IDEOLOGISTS of different persuasions exist in various professional fields. However, university professors in the Kingdom, due to the crucial role they are supposed to play in educating students, are often singled out and accused of indoctrinating their students. Instead of being unbiased and objective in the classroom, many professors impose their viewpoints on students and show no tolerance for opinions different from theirs, thereby creating a dangerous environment that can lead to radicalization of students. The issue brings up some important questions such as where do these people get their ideas from? Is the Saudi education system to blame or regressive mentalities? How do we protect the youth from falling victim to such professors? According to Dr. Abdulrahman Alenad, a former member of the Shoura Council and professor of media, it is a culture that doesn't encourage discourse and debate and it is not professors that are to blame. “Professors are humans and anyone who thinks is an ideologist. Being an ideologist means having a unique and defined way of thinking. Our ideologies influence our decision-making strategies, making us predictable to other people. Professors should have the liberty to express their thoughts and ideas. Moreover, we shouldn't judge other people and accuse them of being ideologists and extremists only because they disagree with our mentalities. Instead, we must encourage discourse and debate,” he said. Alenad went on to say that Saudi society must learn to accept the opinions of people who think differently. “We don't have to agree with their thoughts but we must try to listen to what they have to say and find a point of understanding. This applies to university professors as well, as they must accept the opinions of other people and not be biased. Controversy is only measured by how different an opinion is from the status quo. Criticism is a positive tool in developing intellectual thought, granted that it never descends to pure offense by using foul language and accusations,” he added. Journalist Ali Alkhushaiban said many of these ideologists are extremists who hold prestigious and influential positions in the education sector, making it even more difficult to convince them to take a more balanced approach to classroom instruction. “The most dangerous of ideologists is the one who refuses to engage in discussion and dialogue. He will forever believe that he is right and the rest of the world is wrong. What is even more dangerous is to market one's ideology and frame it in a religious framework only to serve personal interests,” he said. Alkhushaiban believes it is the responsibility of colleges and universities that employ professors to make sure their students aren't being influenced by extremist thought. “Educational institutions should be responsible for protecting their students from being negatively influenced by such extremists because extremism is a very dangerous phenomenon that can destroy the delicate equilibrium of society. Without a balanced society, law and order will be completely disregarded,” he said. Sociologist Saleh Alaqeel claimed many university professors are not qualified for the position they hold, something he blamed on the ease with which people can obtain a PhD in the Kingdom. “Getting a PhD in Saudi Arabia is no longer a challenge. Anyone can obtain a PhD by reviewing a few published books, for example. Also, many degrees are forged. The danger here is when a student believes that he has done the necessary work and deserves the degree. To some people, these academic degrees are just a means to make the necessary connections so they can reach out to whoever they want and get the necessary support for their ideologies,” he said. Saud Katib, a specialist in communication skills and media technology at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, said social media has revealed the true mindsets of many university professors, media icons and other influential figures who previously hid behind their degrees and prestigious positions. “The way they express their thoughts or defend their arguments on social media is obscene and highly unprofessional. A teacher's role is not to manipulate one's thinking but to guide,” he said while suggesting that universities should offer training workshops to develop the mentalities of their professors and encourage them to engage in research and continuous self-development. “Hopefully this will decrease the number of self-centered extremists,” he added.
