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<p>Arab Gulf countries have emerged as important targets of Chinese economic investment. This paper investigates attitudes toward China’s growing economy among nationals of Arab Gulf societies using original data from over 13,000 citizens in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. I find that one in five believe that China’s growing economy is a good thing for their respective countries and that positive attitudes toward China’s economic rise are more common for older respondents, men, and those with higher levels of education—factors associated with more stable economic opportunities in Arab Gulf societies. Attitudes are also more positive <i>within</i>-subject over time after a respondent begins a new job. Finally, I find that attitudes toward China became more negative after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, but only for economic “outsiders.” Taken together, these results suggest that Chinese economic growth and associated investments are viewed skeptically by less economically advantaged individuals who likely expect that China’s economic influence will be mediated through elite-driven projects with unclear benefits for their lives and livelihoods.</p>

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“Selling” China in the Arab Gulf States: Economic Insecurity and Attitudes Toward Chinese Growth

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年5月6日

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  • Lisa Blaydes

摘要

Arab Gulf countries have emerged as important targets of Chinese economic investment. This paper investigates attitudes toward China’s growing economy among nationals of Arab Gulf societies using original data from over 13,000 citizens in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. I find that one in five believe that China’s growing economy is a good thing for their respective countries and that positive attitudes toward China’s economic rise are more common for older respondents, men, and those with higher levels of education—factors associated with more stable economic opportunities in Arab Gulf societies. Attitudes are also more positive within-subject over time after a respondent begins a new job. Finally, I find that attitudes toward China became more negative after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, but only for economic “outsiders.” Taken together, these results suggest that Chinese economic growth and associated investments are viewed skeptically by less economically advantaged individuals who likely expect that China’s economic influence will be mediated through elite-driven projects with unclear benefits for their lives and livelihoods.