Aims

This completes the "Socio-political analysis of the Arab world" course, and enriches it with a more detailed examination of the economic history of the Arab world since the 19th century. It also aims at a more varied audience, and will seek to identify specific features of various strategies of economic development implemented by different Arab countries.

Main themes

1. The economies of Arab countries before they gained independence.
2. The economic development of Arab countries since they gained independence:
a) national construction and economic development;
b) agrarian reform, agricultural revolutions and food deficits;
c) industrialisation (performance and limitations (case studies));
d) technology and technical transfers;
e) oil and oil revenue;
f) Arab investment in Arab countries and abroad;
g) Arab debt;
h) demography, employment and unemployment.
3. Euro-Arab economic relations:
a) Euro-Arab trade;
b) trade between Europe and the Maghreb;
c) trade between the EEC and the Gulf.

Content and teaching methods

Following an introduction to the economic history of Arab countries, the course will examine:
- development strategies in Arab countries;
- import substitution;
- sub-contracting;
- the enhanced value of raw materials;
- the constraints impeding economic development (mainly the rentier state), the power of the public sector, the weakness of inter-regional trade, the low-level mobilisation of human resources, the low levels of investment flows, the vertical nature of trade, the absence of freedom, and poor human resource management);
- Euro-Arab economic relations.
Methodology
The course will include theoretical and thematic reports, and students will be invited to conduct documentary research and to participate actively.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Assessment: This will focus on students' knowledge based on a reading portfolio and personal contributions.

Other credits in programs