The term Arab world refers to the countries that are found within the North Africa region and Western Asia that mostly speak the Arabic language. The numbers of countries that constitute the Arab world are 22. These countries form the Arab league and do stretch from the Arabian Sea that is to the east all the way to the Atlantic Ocean that is to the west. It also includes countries around the Mediterranean Sea in the northern part of the Horn of Africa all the way to the Indian Ocean in South east (Lust-Okar, 25). Sentiments for Arab nationalism started towards the second half period of the 19th century within the Ottoman Empire. The Arab League Movement was started in the year 1945 as a representation of the interest of the Arabs that was aimed at pursuing the unification of the Arabs in the political fronts through Pan-Arabism. During the period 2010 to the early days of 2011, there arouse mass protests within the Arab World that was directed towards their governments. The uprisings were occasioned by widespread corruptions and the need to expand the economic opportunity for the citizens. This paper looks at the future of the Arab world in the next 20 years.
In the recent years, starting from December the year 2010, the Arab spring was characterized by non ideological leadership that greatly left a leadership vacuum (Anderson, 2001). This occasioned the generational revolution that saw youths rise against their governments in the backdrop of poor political and economic structures that had over the years denied them their freedoms that led to high rates of unemployment and presented the poorest educational system in the whole world. Even though, countries like Egypt and Tunisia experienced economic growth, the political institutions and governance system stagnated that eventually saw the population rise against their governments. This paved way for the initiation of various transitions to democracy. Although the Arab league has started to chart a new course, there are fears that the political leadership in these countries could eventually fall in the hands of the deadly Islamists with a number of critics arguing that the outcome in the next two decades would be positive. The future of the Arab world is argued to be based on the seven pillars of the Arab future as discussed below:
As things stand currently, most countries within the Arab world still lag behind in terms of their economy except for the countries that produce petroleum in large quantities. The GDP of these countries are expected to experience significant growth (Simpfendorfer, 21). Countries like Lebanon, Egypt and Syria are expected to experience the highest rate of per capita growth due to the changes in political systems they are experiencing and the widening of economic opportunities brought about by the reforms experienced. The income inequalities are expected to be structured more so that in Egypt as it is currently ranked number 50 worldwide in terms of income inequalities. The problem of unemployment is expected to be solved significantly bearing in mind the strides that the Arab world countries are making currently towards solving this problem. Scholars and other technocrats are working round the clock to see that the targeted 51 million jobs that they aimed at created within the next 20 years is achieved. The governments will also establish firm political foundations that will enable them make difficult decisions that they have not been able to make currently. Either, the microeconomic gains will be realized to make them tangible enough towards solving the problem of unemployment.
In the education pillar, the current education system is so poor that it does not equip students fully with the technical know how and skills necessary in the job market. The governments within the Arab world have initiated plans that will see them realize educational participation that will ensure equalities (Lust-Okar, 25). The suppression on the education system that was practiced by previous regimes has been done away with, and the governments are expected to invest substantively towards reforming the education sector to make it viable and current. In terms of the security pillar, the countries will reform their security sector that is currently characterized with brutal and repressive tactics. Countries like Syria have seen their army used to suppress any form of dissent within the country. The security sector will undergo various reforms that will eventually see the army confined to dealing with external attacks like other world countries rather than torture and suppress their civilian citizens. Either, Libya has to deal with the problem of anti-Gaddaffi militia groups that are still active in most parts of the country.
Another pillar that the countries have to achieve is the transitional justice. The countries have will come up with measures that will see them deal with the post conflict abuses and atrocities that will spearhead change within the Arab world (Anderson, 28). Measures will be put in place to ensure that there is accountability for all the past abuses committed by past and current regimes and any other future regime that will take over leadership. Either, decentralization of power is in progress and in the next 20 years the countries will have realized total democracy through decentralization of power that will see power being distributed at different levels that will eventually see the elected representatives given bigger say in the manner in which the countries are run.
In conclusion, therefore, the countries within the Arab world have initiated measures that are aimed at revolutionizing and overhauling the systems that existed under the oppressive rules. There are a number of countries that are still engaged in armed struggle to ensure that the dictatorial governments are overthrown and democratic ones are installed. Within the next 20 years, the Arab world is expected to have realized pluralism and inclusions through learning from their own mistakes and those of others countries. The region is thus expected to catch up with other countries that have made significant strides.
Works Cited
Lust-Okar, Ellen. Structuring Conflict In The Arab World: Cambridge University Press. 2005 Print
Anderson, Lisa. "Demystifying The Arab Spring: Parsing The Differences Between Tunisia, Egypt, And Libya." Foreign Affairs. 90. 2011 Print.
Simpfendorfer, Ben. "The New Silk Road: How A Rising Arab World Is Turning Away From The West And Rediscovering China." The China Quarterly 203. Page 725-763: 2010 Print
