Political Economic Perspectives on the Development of the Middle East and North Africa

Abstract

The objective of this study is to examine the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and its challenges from the perspective of development with a goal to break down and make better sense of what seems to be the complexities and 'idiosyncrasies' of this region. The primary issues and concerns for the MENA countries have largely been perceived and dealt with through the vantage point of addressing conflicts in the geopolitical and historical context. In light of this, applying developmental approach that is multidisciplinary to understand and meet the challenges of the MENA region in a fundamental way would have many benefits, opening a new window of opportunities, academically and policy wise. From such stance, this paper focuses on and explains what are considered to be the three fundamental and core 'conditions' or tasks for the countries in the region: state-building and nation-building; participatory development; and capability of state. The importance of looking at the 'big picture' of the reality in the manner of reflection and metacognition is underscored.