The Arab Awakening’s Aftermath
The turmoil in the Arab Awakening's aftermath has all but decimated the affected countries’ economies. To enable them to transform their economies alongside their political systems, while avoiding destabilization or collapse, the international community must scale up financial, policy, and institutional assistance.
LONDON – The turmoil following the Arab Awakening has all but decimated the affected countries’ economies. Political assassinations and polarization in Tunisia, civil unrest and a military takeover in Egypt, terrorist attacks in Yemen, sectarian strife and an institutional vacuum in Libya, and civil war in Syria have contributed to a sharp fall in investment, tourism, exports, and GDP growth, aggravating macroeconomic imbalances. For example, Egypt’s fiscal deficit now stands at 14% of GDP, with public debt approaching 100% of GDP. Most of the Arab Awakening countries lack buffers to withstand further economic shocks.
LONDON – The turmoil following the Arab Awakening has all but decimated the affected countries’ economies. Political assassinations and polarization in Tunisia, civil unrest and a military takeover in Egypt, terrorist attacks in Yemen, sectarian strife and an institutional vacuum in Libya, and civil war in Syria have contributed to a sharp fall in investment, tourism, exports, and GDP growth, aggravating macroeconomic imbalances. For example, Egypt’s fiscal deficit now stands at 14% of GDP, with public debt approaching 100% of GDP. Most of the Arab Awakening countries lack buffers to withstand further economic shocks.