Political Economy Program

Countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) have long endured economic deficiencies, political corruption, and social grievances that ultimately led to the Arab Uprisings in 2011. Long-term structural challenges, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, have led to financial, political, and socio-economic crises of unprecedented gravity in the MENA region. These crises are exacerbated by the daunting prospects of stability and development and the lack of credible medium- to long-term visions for addressing the structural weaknesses of MENA economies. The Political Economy Program will analyze the different crises afflicting the region, examine the politics of austerity and inequality, and review the adjustment and transformation challenges many economies are facing. The program will also examine the geopolitical consequences of economic and financial crises and the increasing use of economic instruments, such as investments, trade, and energy, as regional policy tools.