Abstract:
This thesis seeks to explore the extent to which modern western educational ideology
influences, or even determines, educational development in the Middle East, and in
particular in Lebanon. In the last decade, new forms of analysis for evaluating global
educational trends have emerged giving rise to a growing body of international literature
(Mundy, 2007). This literature links the processes of economic, political and social
globalization to how education is constructed around the world. This thesis aims to add to
that body of knowledge by exploring the spread of Western ideology to the architecture
of Middle East education. The research component of this thesis sought to determine the
presence, if any, of popular culture on Lebanese university campuses and the extent to
which Western pop culture impacts the educational experience in Lebanon. Triangulation
was used to further validate findings, with surveys, interviews and observations being the
primary methods of data collection. The results collected support the original hypothesis,
demonstrating that Western ideology, in particular pop culture, has indeed spread to
Lebanese