The economic dimension of Arab Uprisings -

Abstract

This research work’s objective is to elucidate some of the major economic underpinnings of the Arab revolts in order to explain, on one hand, the Arab Spring phenomenon and to address, on another hand, the future challenges of this unprecedented wave of uprisings and regimes overthrown that has shaken several countries of the region over the past two years. In the first part of the thesis, the light is shed on the reasons why the Arab World has lagged so far behind in terms of democratization and why the modernization theory did not apply to the Middle East and North Africa, comparatively to other regions in the world, mainly South-East Asia. As for the second part of the thesis, it mainly revolves around the socioeconomic roots of the Arab uprisings, from youth bulge and unemployment, to oil and its adverse impact on development, rising inequalities and corruption. Finally, the third part of the research work is about the post-revolutionary economic challenges; it tackles specifically the need for economic diversification and for large-scale job-creation as well as the importance of a developmental agenda and the creation of a regional infrastructure for cooperation.