This study employs an in-depth analytical approach to examine the economic realities in Arab countries over the past two decades, taking into account the structural transformations that have occurred within the international system at both economic and geopolitical levels.
The central hypothesis of this study posits that the divergent development paths among Arab countries, combined with their vulnerability to external shocks, have prevented them from establishing a productive base that can strengthen their position in the global system.
The study examines the characteristics of Arab economic performance across several dimensions, including growth, public finance, trade, and the labor market. It demonstrates that while some countries—especially oil producers—have seen improvements in their economic indicators, these gains mask the underlying structural fragility in their macroeconomies and weaknesses in diversification and productivity.
Additionally, the study addresses the significant problems that hinder economic empowerment, including imbalanced public spending patterns, weak inter-regional integration, technological dependency, and reliance on conditional aid.
The study concludes that reshaping the Arab's international role requires a focus on strengthening economic independence, expanding the productive base, and strategic engagement in emerging alliances such as BRICS and other groups that are reshaping the global landscape of influence.