Political and Socio-Economic Change in the Middle East and North Africa

Political and Socio-Economic Change in the Middle East and North Africa examines the shortcomings of the economic development policies in the region before and after the Arab uprisings. Many MENA countries tried to pursue neoliberal policies to boost economic growth. However, the outcome was associated with rising and disproportionate unemployment among the youth and women. The focal point of the book is the role of gender and the ways in which policies translate into economic outcomes. Particular attention is paid to women's entrepreneurship, especially as owners of small and medium enterprises, which, as the authors argue, can potentially reduce unemployment and poverty for the population as a whole. The book offers perspectives on wholesome policies that take account of issues concerning gender and youth and, thus, contribute to lower unemployment and reduced poverty and inequity.

"This volume provides a valuable theoretical overview, four fascinating case studies by eminent scholarly experts of political economy and working women, and a concluding chapter that ties all the threads together. The book is effective in documenting the impact of neoliberal economic policies in the MENA region on low income families, and especially women and youth. The book ought to be essential reading for all international economics courses in general, and for classes about the contemporary MENA region." - Eric Hooglund, Editor, Middle East Critique

"For this volume on the causes of the recent Middle East uprisings, Bahramitash and Esfahani have selected studies that show how a quest for social and economic justice helped launch the Arab Spring. What transforms the work from useful to invaluable is the decision to highlight women's role and status in MENA economies – a gendered perspective that yields some wise policy prescriptions for including the region's women and youth, and reducing inequality and poverty." - Diana Strassmann, Carolyn and Fred McManis Distinguished Professor in the Practice, Rice University, USA

"Bahramitash and Esfahani's work consistently opens up questions of political economy within Middle Eastern societies to research-based, gender-focused analyses. This volume provides unique insight into the underlying conditions of both the unexpected Arab Springand the grimly ensuing Arab Winter, with a sensitive awareness of the tensions between claims for economic rights and social justice vs. liberal rights and juridical process. A timely and important book." - Norma Claire Moruzzi, Associate Professor of Political Science and Gender & Women's Studies, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA

"This volume provides a valuable theoretical overview, four fascinating case studies by eminent scholarly experts of political economy and working women, and a concluding chapter that ties all the threads together. The book is effective in documenting the impact of neoliberal economic policies in the MENA region on low income families, and especially women and youth. The book ought to be essential reading for all international economics courses in general, and for classes about the contemporary MENA region." - Eric Hooglund, Editor, Middle East Critique

"For this volume on the causes of the recent Middle East uprisings, Bahramitash and Esfahani have selected studies that show how a quest for social and economic justice helped launch the Arab Spring. What transforms the work from useful to invaluable is the decision to highlight women's role and status in MENA economies – a gendered perspective that yields some wise policy prescriptions for including the region's women and youth, and reducing inequality and poverty." - Diana Strassmann, Carolyn and Fred McManis Distinguished Professor in the Practice, Rice University, USA

"Bahramitash and Esfahani's work consistently opens up questions of political economy within Middle Eastern societies to research-based, gender-focused analyses. This volume provides unique insight into the underlying conditions of both the unexpected Arab Springand the grimly ensuing Arab Winter, with a sensitive awareness of the tensions between claims for economic rights and social justice vs. liberal rights and juridical process. A timely and important book." - Norma Claire Moruzzi, Associate Professor of Political Science and Gender & Women's Studies, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA

Roksana Bahramitash is Director of Research for the Canada Research Chair in Islam, Pluralism and Globalization at the University of Montreal, Canada. She previously worked as Faculty Lecturer on Gender and Environment with the Simone de Beauvoir Institute and Research Associate of Iranian studies at Concordia University, Canada.

Hadi Salehi Esfahani is Professor of Economics and Business Administration at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA. He holds a BSc in engineering from the University of Tehran, Iran, and a PhD in economics from the University of California at Berkeley, USA.