A political economy of the Middle East : state, class, and economic development

This text presents an analysis of the transformation of the political economy of the nations of the Middle East over the past several decades. Stressing the interrelation of politics and development stategies, including industrialization based on import substitution, agricultural export-led growth and oil rentier development, the authors explain how different strategies have contributed to class formation and to the definition of powerful new interests, not only within governmental structures but also within whole societies that have moved far from thier traditional agricultural base. The authors assess the impact of contending ideologies (socialism, nationalism and religious fundamentalism) on regional development, arguing that military and bureaucratic authoritarians, in transforming their societies and economies, may have created the very forces that will eventually topple them and provide for broader-based political participation. The Middle East has also been swept by war, affected by the oil boom and subjected to large flows of labour migration. Looking at how these regional and international events have affected national development, the authors create a portrait of the region's unique characteristics as well as those traits it shares with the rest of the developing world.