Working Papers

The Middle East Peace Dilemma: Bilateral Political Negotiation for Multilateral Economic Cooperation

No.

526

Publisher

Economic Research Forum (ERF)

Date

November, 1995

Topic

F. International Economics

Abstract Prospects for Middle East economic cooperation are largely determined by the underlying political structure of the Middle East peace process. The Middle East peace dilemma lies in identifying the most effective form of negotiation - bilateral or multilateral - for the promotion of economic cooperation in the region. The capacity of bilateral dialogue to nurture effective economic cooperation is curtailed by impediments to cooperation including ongoing conflict; external strategic political alliances; and economic structural distortions which affect more than two countries. The continuing bilateral approach to the peace process encourages quantitative rather than qualitative structural changes since each new player is brought into the dialogue on the basis of specific strategic interests of two parties rather than the collective interests of the region. This approach may bring about short-term economic progress but has limited potential for long-term sustainable development. A multilateral forum, however, can provide a more suitable environment for promoting economic cooperation by encouraging full inclusion of all players in the political process and ensuring that all players' economic interests are satisfied proportionately. Arabic Abstract:
تتحدد احتمالات تحقيق التعاون الاقتصادى فى الشرق الاوسط الى حد كبير بالهيكل السياسى لعملية السلام. وتكمن معضلة السلام فى الشرق الاوسط فى تحديد الشكل الانسب للتفاوض- الثنائى او متعدد الاطراف - من أجل دعم التعاون الاقتصادى فى المنطقة. وثمة عوائق للتعاون ت
The Middle East Peace Dilemma: Bilateral Political Negotiation for Multilateral Economic Cooperation

Senior Associates

Samir Abdullah

Associate Professor and Senior Research Fellow at...