Gov 365N/MES 323K

Questions for Class 14: March 2, 2010

From last time:

1. In their second Arab Human Development Report (2003) the authors suggest that there is a relationship between the freedom deficit and the knowledge deficit discussed in their earlier report. How convinced are you that, in their words, "freedom of thought and expression are among the fundamental principles for shaping free, innovative societies, businesses and individuals?" What other problems do the Arab countries face in efforts to develop "knowledge societies?"

2. What kinds of "freedom of thought and expression" may be needed for a country to attract the various types of financial flows discussed in the World Bank Development Report 1999/2000 on this week's syllabus? What do developing countries need to do to "capture the gains of financial globalization?" For further discussion you may consult my Dead Sea article.

3. From what you have read so far about the political economies of the MENA, which countries stand better chances of capturing these gains? Why?
Can we relate them to our typology of bunker, bully, monarchical, and quasi-democratic regimes?
 
4. Why do you think of the correlation between bunker regimes and CIM? (Our bunkers' economies tend to have much lower CIMs, i.e. more money outside banks, stashed under people's mattresses) Does it tell us anything about the ability of these regimes to engage in economic reform?

5. Looking at this six-page World Bank strategy outline, well 11 pp pdf, what do you think of the Bank's new strategy - with 2009 update - and its focus, in particular, upon sharing knowledge and promoting good governance in additional to its traditional long-term lending? (For instance, "As we refine the MNA strategy, it is important to avoid a false dichotomy between lending and knowledge and to recognize that these are two complementary channels to deliver our assistance to the Region. Lending embodies knowledge and contributes to keeping our knowledge relevant operationally and pragmatic. Knowledge and ideas have a powerful impact, which lending can leverage, but it can also constitute a self-standing channel, given the specificity of financial resource transfers in the Region. Rather than a dichotomy, finance AND knowledge constitute the two pillars to support the Coutry Assistance Strategies development outcomes objectives and they are the two major "product lines" that we intermediate in our relations with our client countries.")

 6. How does the multilateral approach contrast with other United States efforts to promote democracy in the region, via its 2004 G-8 initiative as well by diplomatic and military means?

 

Main page - Feb. 22, 2010
Department of Government, College of Liberal Arts, University of Texas at Austin.
Questions, Comments, and Suggestions to chenry@mail.utexas.edu