The Economy in the Arab Uprisings: Difficulties and Transformations

The events related to the Arab Spring were having a considerable economic impact on Middle East and North African countries. Oil-exporting states like the Gulf states and Algeria experienced a tremendous growth in their national income, partially due to increasing oil prices, and were investing that money in social programs. Nonexporting states like Tunisia, Syria, and Egypt, on the other hand, lost part of their income and were then deeply in need of foreign aid to proceed in their path towards democracy. Facing those challenges, and with their preeminence threatened by emerging powers like the BRICS states (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) and Turkey, the Western powers needed to redefine their economic and political strategy if they wanted to maintain their leading position in the area.