Arab Development Denied: Dynamics of Accumulation by Wars of Encroachment (Anthem Frontiers of Global Political Economy and Development)

Arab Development Denied examines how over the last three decades the Arab world has undergone a process of developmental descent, or de-development. As a result of defeat in wars, the loss of security and sovereignty, and even their own class proclivity, the Arab ruling classes have been transformed into fully compradorial classes that have relinquished autonomy over policy. The neoliberal policies adopted since the early eighties are not developmental policies, but the terms of surrender by which Arab resources, human or otherwise, are stifled or usurped. In this book, Ali Kadri attributes the Arab world’s developmental failure to imperialist hegemony over oil and the rising role of financialisation, which goes hand in hand with the wars of encroachment that strip the Arab world of its sovereignty and resources.

Ali Kadri is a Senior Research Fellow at the National University of Singapore and has served as a Visiting Fellow at the London School of Economics (LSE) and Head of the Economic Analysis Section at the United Nations regional office for western Asia.