The Arab Spring constitutes perhaps the most far-reaching political and economic transition since the end of communism in Europe. For too long, the economic aspirations of the people in the region, especially young people, have been ignored by leaders in Arab countries and abroad. Competing views as to how best to meet these aspirations are now being debated in the region. The outcome will shape Arab societies for generations to come.
The authors of this book argue that significant economic reforms must accompany the major political transitions that are underway. Although each country has a different economic structure and history and must make its own way forward, there are spill-overs from trade and investment linkages, the contagion of news cycles, interaction of people and sharing of expectations that are too great to ignore. Some common foundation of the new Arab economies is needed. Towards that end, this volume addresses four central challenges of economic reform in the Arab world. First, with two-thirds of the population under the age of 30, the disproportionate burdens of unemployment and poor education can no longer be heaped on youth. Second, while some government policies may have improved the living standards of Arab citizens in the past, they have also entrenched cronies, enriched a small elite, and become unaffordable. Third, if Arab economies are to compete in the 21st century they cannot depend solely on oil and gas money, remittances, and tourism, but will require active, independent private sectors. And finally, the relative isolation of Arab economies--both from each other and from the world--must end.
Rather than providing specific lists of recommendations, this book sets forth a set of guidelines and priorities for reformers who will begin creating new opportunities for youth, rebuilding the institutions of the state, diversifying the private sector, and cooperating with each other and integrating with the world economy.

One of the biggest issues in the world today is the violation of basic human rights. Across the globe, from Syria to Rwanda to Myanmar, millions of innocent people have been tortured, killed or persecuted for their beliefs or minority status. Ethnic cleansing and genocide have murdered millions more, and the widespread of denial of equal rights to women is still in the increase. Even in our own backyard, people are being subjected to torture and unlawful detention, and forced disappearance. No country in the world is unaffected by human rights abuse. But finally, we have a practical tool for solving the global human rights problem. It is this book, A Universal Human Rights Model. There are plenty of other books already in print that discuss human rights, but A Universal Human Rights Model is the only one to provide a basic human rights model that can be applied to achieve actual results on the ground in any context. The book: Defines human rights, details the elements of the human rights model, and explains how to use the model to implement a human rights action plan on a national scale. It also comprises a human rights index and indicators by which human rights actors can measure their progress in the transformation process. At 103,000 words, A Universal Human Rights Model is a comprehensive work that will appeal to duty bearers, state agents, government officials, human rights advocates, NGOs, researchers, and anyone interested in human rights.