Most of our Arab countries are going through political instability. Instability may take several forms, including popular violence, political assassinations, revolutions, change in governments, or ousting them, and usually instability shakes the confidence in the establishment’s framework. This leads to uncertainty in economic policies, and this uncertainty pushes many governments to adopt short-term economic policies with the aim of gaining approval and keeping their posts.
The downward trend pushes them to a negative situation and a drop in investments, a drop in productivity, and in turn, the destruction of productive energies, the disappearance of development, and scientific research. The strong negative influence of political instability on economic performance may lead to lack of growth, inflation and unemployment, social dissatisfaction and violence. These push countries into a closed circle and stagnation. This is the situation in some Arab countries right now.
Several reasons might create political instability. Some studies linked the reduction of individual’s income, civil unrest, and lack of education and employment as some of the causes of instability. Many Arab countries are suffering from political instability; some of them have even become failed states. Some countries in the region are contributing to political instability in the Arab world.
There is no doubt that history and geography are the common factors many countries use to measure their relations with the Arab world. We actually need to find a modern way to relate with our neighbors, rather than historical grudges. We need to strengthen our economic might. Arab Gulf countries do not have political instability, so there is a need for us to put up a strategy that will help other Arab countries because the circle is getting wider and may reach us one day if there are no realistic approach and proper solutions. The Arab world is becoming one nation, and when one Arab nation is badly affected, we will all be affected in one way or another.
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