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The Arab and Post-Communist Transitions: Similarities, Differences, and Common Lessons

Author

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  • Marek Dabrowski

    (CASE – Center for Social and Economic Research, Warsaw
    Bruegel, Brussels
    Faculty of Economic Science, Higher School of Economics, Moscow)

Abstract

At the onset of the mass protests in 2010–2011, many politicians and experts suggested that Arab countries could learn from the experiences of the post-communist transition of the early 1990s. However, the geopolitical, historical, and socio-economic context of the Arab transition was different in many respects from that of the former Soviet bloc countries 20 years earlier. These differences became even more obvious five years later, in early 2016, when most Arab transition attempts ended either in a new wave of authoritarianism, or protracted bloody conflicts. Nonetheless, there are some common lessons to be learnt from the history of both transitions. They concern interrelations between the political and economic transition, the role of institutional checks and balances and the rule of law, the speed of reforms, the dangers of ethnic and sectarian conflicts, and the role of external support.

Suggested Citation

  • Marek Dabrowski, 2016. "The Arab and Post-Communist Transitions: Similarities, Differences, and Common Lessons," Acta Oeconomica, Akadémiai Kiadó, Hungary, vol. 66(2), pages 181-212, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:aka:aoecon:v:66:y:2016:i:2:p:181-212
    Note: The earlier version of this paper, “Transition Experiences of Europe and CIS: An Overview and Opportunities for Cross-Regional Sharing with the Arab States”, was commissioned by the UNDP and presented at the Special Session on “Cross-Regional Knowledge and Experiences Sharing between Europe and the Arab States” held during the First Arab States Regional South-South Development Expo, February 20, 2014, Doha, Qatar. The previous version has been substantially revised and updated. The opinions presented here are solely of the author and not necessarily of the institutions which he is affiliated with.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    post-communist transition; Arab Spring; political reform; economic reform; macroeconomic stabilisation; development issues; energy subsidies; conflict;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory
    • E63 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Comparative or Joint Analysis of Fiscal and Monetary Policy; Stabilization; Treasury Policy
    • F15 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Economic Integration
    • H24 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Personal Income and Other Nonbusiness Taxes and Subsidies
    • H56 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - National Security and War
    • H62 - Public Economics - - National Budget, Deficit, and Debt - - - Deficit; Surplus
    • H63 - Public Economics - - National Budget, Deficit, and Debt - - - Debt; Debt Management; Sovereign Debt
    • I25 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Economic Development
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • P21 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist and Transition Economies - - - Planning, Coordination, and Reform
    • P22 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist and Transition Economies - - - Prices
    • P51 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Comparative Economic Systems - - - Comparative Analysis of Economic Systems

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