Studying history and its effect on students’ political awareness: a case study of Saudi university students

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to address the importance and effects of studying history and Islamic history on students’ political awareness. Design/methodology/approach: To achieve the objectives of this study, a questionnaire was used. A total of 315 university students aged 17–50 years old participated in the study. These students represented three of the most influential universities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Findings: The results revealed a strong, positive and significant correlation between the study of history and students’ political awareness. Originality/value: The findings of this study indicated that studying history and Islamic history leads to an increased level of students’ political awareness. Therefore, studying history is important for university students to develop their political awareness and prepare them as future leaders.