The economies of the Middle East & North Africa in the 21st century: Structures, problems and European influences

Week 2, 11-16 hrs

Christian Neugebauer

Philipps-Universität Marburg

Thematic structure:

This course is about political and economic challenges of the Near and Middle East (NME). We will introduce economic theory and analytical tools which will be used to analyze prevalent socio-economic structures, institutions and their transformation in the region. The focus is on the region's current perspectives of socio-economic development, with a special emphasis on its present and past links with Europe.

We will deal with the following topics:

Continuities and ruptures: NME economies from European colonization to the present
Aspects of economic growth and development in the NME region
Oil and rentierism
Regional economic integration and cooperation in the NME
The NME in the global economy: Trade and foreign investment
Intra- and interregional migration
Political and economic transformation: Change of politico-economic paradigms and actors

Aims:

The first aim is to provide students with a basic knowledge of both the characteristics of the MENA region’s economic structures, and the theoretical tools which could be used for their analysis. By applying this knowledge to specific problems and cases within the region, students will recognize the usefulness and limits of the different approaches. The second aim is to induce students to take the initiative in tackling new cases, and to draw from their newly acquired expertise in their own independent analysis.

Method:

Presentations by course instructor with continuous interaction with the class, followed by group discussions
Group puzzle: Short readings, followed by inter-group discussions and a short ad hoc-presentation
Group assignment: Readings, intra-group discussions, presentation of the topic to the class

Assessment:

Participation in the discussions, individual presentation parts, structure and contents of the group presentation

Bibliography:

Noland, Marcus and Howard Pack. 2007. The Arab economies in a changing world. Washington, D.C.: Peterson Institute for International Economics.
Owen, Roger and Sevket Pamuk. 1999. A history of Middle East economies in the 20th century. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Richards, Alan and John Waterbury. 2008. A political economy of the Middle East. Boulder, CO: Westview.

Obligatory reading

Résumé of Christian Neugebauer:

* Since 2009 Philipps-University Marburg (Germany)
Scientific Assistant at the Center for Near and Middle Eastern Studies, Middle East Economics

* 2008 – 2009 Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Germany)
PhD student at the Institute of Economic Science, Contemporary Oriental Research, Prof. Sefik Alp Bahadir

* 2004 – 2005
University of Massachusetts at Amherst (USA)
Studies of Business Administration, Political Science and Arabic

* 2001 – 2007 University of Mannheim (Germany)
Studies of Business Administration
Specializations: Industrial Management, Finance, Political Science (Elective)
Degree: Diplom-Kaufmann