The Trap of Neoliberalism for GCC Countries

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 63-82
Author(s):  
Abdullah Al-Beraidi
Keyword(s):  
Economic Reform ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Social Solidarity ◽  
Economic Costs ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Sustained Development ◽  
Class System ◽  
Gcc Countries ◽  
Breathing Space ◽  
Gulf States

This study investigates the extent to which neoliberalism could be the cornerstone for economic reform and diversification in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. It seeks to determine the most important effects of neoliberalism as well as its social and economic costs, starting from the premise that economics is by and large a social science. The study is aimed at exploring the possibilities of crafting an economic doctrine suited to the conditions of these countries and capable of satisfying their current and future needs with the aim of fostering sustained development and stability on a sound basis. In its quest for answers, it uses a descriptive, critical and interpretive methodology in an analytical framework that combines the views of prominent economists and social scientists while paying special attention to the scientific and critical views of Arab Gulf thinkers and their analysts. The study looks at what it called “the five major defects” of neoliberalism: an unfair class system; lack of social solidarity; the debt trap; communal protests; and marketization and commoditization. Five warnings were made to the citizens of the Gulf States: to avoid impoverishment; to be wary of debt; to avoid ventures; to be wary of predators; and to be wary of intruders. The study tackled the twin issues of opting for limited liberalism and the need for reform to allow the economy breathing space.

scholarly journals Eurocentrism and the Contribution of Ibn Khaldun to the Growth of Sociology

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 41
Author(s):  
Aboobacker Rameez
Keyword(s):  
19Th Century ◽  
European Society ◽  
Political Organization ◽  
Social Solidarity ◽  
Economic Conditions ◽  
North African ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Ibn Khaldun ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
The 19Th Century

It is generally believed that sociology originated in Europe in the 19th century and the paternity of the discipline is commonly attributed to the French sociologist August Comte. However, reflections of a sociological nature were observed and found in the work of 14th century North African historian and philosopher Ibn Khaldun. However, such contribution of Ibn Khaldun is little acknowledged by European scholars in their works. Therefore, this paper attempts to examine how Eurocentrism is embedded in the writing of the European scholars and unpacks the contribution of Ibn Khaldun in the growth of Sociology. In the first part of essay, I argue that the perspective of European scholars are mainly Eurocentric and parochial in their accounts on culture, language and other aspects of non-European society. In the second part of the essay, I argue Ibn Khaldun’s contribution to the field of sociology is largely ignored, though his contributions dealt with the society and human character, political organization and government, differences between rural and urban populations, kinship, social solidarity, and the interplay between economic conditions and social organizations. Nevertheless, I argue that though Ibn Khaldun’s ideas have hugely impressed some of European thinkers in the 19th century prompting them to regard him as the progenitor of sociology, question remains as to how his ideas and theories have been appropriated by contemporary social scientists in their works.

FinTech Strategies in the GCC

2020 ◽  
pp. 67-85
Author(s):  
Konstantinos Tsanis
Keyword(s):  
Financial Services ◽  
Ecosystem Development ◽  
Development Mode ◽  
Technology Sector ◽  
Gcc Countries ◽  
Generic Term ◽  
Gulf States ◽  
Financial Technology

The Gulf states, attempting to diversify their economies, have focused largely on transforming their economies. Part of their transformation focus areas is the technology sector. FinTech is a generic term used for all financial technology developments, and has gained a lot of traction in the recent years. As Financial services is one of the main sources of GDP for the GCC states, the GCC governments have focused in promoting the FinTech entrepreneurship spirit, through different initiatives. In the chapter, the authors analyze the FinTech ecosystem development mode for all the GCC countries, focusing on understanding the reason that have made it one of the most successful FinTech ecosystems globally.

The emerging labour market and transformation from state amateurs to professional athletes

2019 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 379-390
Author(s):  
Yiyong Liang
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Economic Reform ◽  
Economic Transition ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Professional Sport ◽  
Football Players ◽  
Comprehensive Understanding ◽  
National Economic ◽  
Chinese Industry ◽  
Market Approach

Corporate governance and its associated concerns had no bearing on Chinese industry management before its national economic reform in the early 1980s. The government's intention has been tomake all state-owned enterprisesmore effective and efficient than they previously were by gradually introducing Western enterprise methods with a capitalist market approach. The article explores the notion of corporate governance in the context of Chinese football by studying the emerging labour markets and management of professional football players to gain a comprehensive understanding of the issues concerning the governance of Chinese sports and its human resource management. It seeks to contribute to the development of stakeholder theory as an important analytical framework on Chinese management studies in the field of professional sport during its economic transition.

Prospects for the Gulf states to end-2020

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Spending ◽  
Gulf Cooperation Council ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Gcc Countries ◽  
Gulf States

Subject Prospects for the Gulf states to end-2020. Significance All Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have ordered large cuts in public spending. As governments implement economic measures to cope with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, regional disputes including the war in Yemen, tensions with Iran and the Qatar boycott will remain high on the agenda. The GCC 's failure to seize the opportunity offered by the pandemic to reinvigorate cooperation to fight the disease reflects a deeper malaise.

Fossil Fuels

2020 ◽  
pp. 21-41
Author(s):  
Azra N. Tutuncu
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Fossil Fuel ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Environmental Risks ◽  
Foreseeable Future ◽  
Economic Costs ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Heating And Cooling ◽  
Production And Consumption ◽  
Different Types

While experts agree that some fossil fuels will be left in the ground due to economic costs, environmental risks, or political concerns, these resources are likely to remain the primary source of energy for generating electricity, heating and cooling, and transportation for the foreseeable future. This chapter provides an overview of the different types of fossil fuels and their histories, production and consumption trends, and future opportunities and challenges for the fossil fuel sector. Its purpose is to provide a technical background for social scientists working on energy issues.

Prospects for the Gulf states in 2016

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Reform ◽  
Regional Policy ◽  
Oil Prices ◽  
Gulf Cooperation Council ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Gulf States

Subject Prospects for the Gulf states in 2016 Significance Oil prices are biting into government revenues and increasing pressure for economic reform. However, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) governments are prioritising regional policy following the international nuclear deal with Iran.

Prospects for the Gulf states to end-2017

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Gulf Cooperation Council ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Gcc Countries ◽  
Oil Revenue ◽  
Gulf States

Subject Prospects for the Gulf states to end-2017. Significance Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries agree on the need to check Iran’s regional aspirations, but differ radically on how to achieve this goal -- pushing Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to open confrontation with Qatar and leaving Kuwait and Oman caught uncomfortably in the middle. At the same time, they face the major challenge of adjusting their economies to long-term expectations of lower oil revenue.

Exclusion

2020 ◽  
pp. 77-88
Author(s):  
Paul Spicker
Keyword(s):  
Social Relationships ◽  
Major Part ◽  
Social Solidarity ◽  
Poor People ◽  
International Organisations ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Relational Understanding ◽  
Policy Communities ◽  
The Eu ◽  
The Way

The discourse of exclusion has emerged as an alternative to discourses about poverty, largely because it opens debate to the examination of relational issues in ways that many social scientists have been determined to reject. Many of the themes raised by poor people are about social relationships - isolation, powerlessness, gender and the problem of government. As the policy communities dealing with poverty have come to be aware of the relational elements of poverty, they have tried to change the way they talk about poverty. The idea of exclusion is rooted in a distinct view of society, based on networks of social solidarity; the experience of exclusion is defined in terms of those networks; the primary remedy is ‘insertion’, integration or inclusion, rather than resources, equality or redistribution. These are all relational issues; the idea of exclusion is rooted in a relational understanding of people’s circumstances. And that means that discussions of exclusion come closer to the idea of poverty than much of the literature on poverty in itself, offering a way to escape from the limitations of the academic analysis of poverty. The concept of exclusion has become a major part of anti-poverty policy in international organisations, including the EU and the UN.

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