The Political and Economic Evolution of the Greater Middle East: An Overview

In this chapter, we provide an overview of the main socioeconomic and political developments of the Middle East over the last century, i.e., since the fall of the Ottoman Empire to present days. In general, economic activity in the region is mostly based on natural resources, in particular, crude oil, which has not prevented that most of the region was still in an underdeveloped situation (except for the wealthy monarchies of the Persian Gulf). In addition, these countries present a great degree of social instability, and their political regimes are mostly authoritarian.