Background and Overview

The Middle East and North Africa extends some 7,000 miles from Morocco to Iran. Within this area are 19 countries whose political and economic cultures, while not homogeneous, share a heritage shaped by Islamic, Arab, Persian, Ottoman, and European rule. Political and economic developments vary greatly from country to country but also share common features. The national economic systems in the region are either statist or mixed economies. The political systems run the gamut from full authoritarian regimes to emerging democracies.

Many countries in the region suffer from weak economies, illiteracy, and high unemployment—a situation that particularly affects the burgeoning young population, which feels increasingly marginalized and disillusioned with government. While structural reforms have somewhat lessened the role of the state in the economy, there is a sense of unbridled and unrestricted commerce in the region, which is often referred to as the bazaar or souk economy. Though a number of countries are seeking to enter the global economy by adopting market-opening reforms, they often lack the self-correcting market mechanisms and institutions necessary to create modern economies.

Over the past year, an internal movement towards political, economic, and social reform has begun throughout the region. These reform movements are in various stages of development. Pressure to reform, however, is not only coming from external forces, internal intellectual movements, or opposition parties, but also from the reality of increasing poverty and unemployment, which have become serious problems. In addition, conflicting economic policies are limiting investment opportunities throughout the region. A vision of reform exists, but often society does not have the confidence, expertise, or information about how to pursue it. Reformists see political reform in the form of public participation in policymaking as a catalyst to economic and educational reform.

CIPE’s 2005 strategy builds upon the momentum from internal reform efforts in the region through strategic partnerships with business associations, economic policy institutes, and economic journalists. Pressures to join the WTO, engage in free trade agreements, and other international institutions provide a platform for local business groups to advocate for institutional reform.

Programs and Resources

• EFHAM: Youth and Entrepreneurship Civic Education Program brochure and EFHAM website

• Transcript (in French, unedited) from March 9, 2004 CIPE-MEPI Corporate Governance Conference in Casablanca, Morocco

• Strategie d'Entreprise et Engagements Citoyens- Presentation given on March 9, 2004 by Dr. Rachid Belkahia, President of the CGEM Commission Ethique et Bonne Gouvernance at the CIPE-MEPI Corporate Governance Conference in Casablanca, Morocco (in French)

• Poverty in Fayoum, Egypt Articles by Ibrahim Al Bahrawy, from Al Wafd Newspaper

• "Fayoum- A Model for Egypt: How Can We Overcome Poverty?" This article is also available in Arabic
  
  
• "Combating Fayoum Poverty: Dialogue in Cairo" This article is also available in Arabic

• Watch John Sullivan's interview on International Exchange, an Arabic program.

• Slideshow of Le Chef d'Entreprise Face a ses Responsabilites: Elements de Reflexion presented in French by Dr. Rachid Belkahia, President of the CGEM Ethics Committee, on October 14, 2003 to the International Chamber of Commerce Maroc.

• "Why Do Corporations Fail? Lessons from International Experience." Presented at the Egyptian Center for Economic Studies on March 30th, 2003 by John Sullivan

• Presentation audio
  
• Presentation transcript
  
• Recommendations audio
  
• Recommendations transcript

• Tunisian American Chamber of Commerce
  Corporate Governance Conference which took place on Thursday, May 29 in Tunis.

  Watch Dr. Sullivan's video presentation

• In our Bookstore : Islam, Civil Society and Market Economy, and In Search of Good Directors in Arabic