Opportunities For Cooperation Between France And The Arab World

France has had a long-standing and historically significant relationship with the Arab World. This relationship is bolstered by the growing volume of bilateral trade between France and the GCC states. From the French perspective, the Gulf states are major partners and interlocutors, hence political dialogue remains intense at all levels. Interpersonal relations remain positive, being rooted in friendship and confidence. Furthermore, France and the Gulf states hold convergent positions on almost all regional issues. There are growing commercial flows between the GCC states and France, which mainly imports oil and gas from these states. However, a more stable partnership can be established through investment. To encourage this, a legal framework is imperative to ensure the security of assets and fair returns on investments. French security commitments manifest themselves in three ways: through support in the fight against terrorism, contributions to the defense capacities of the GCC countries and a willingness to participate in a collective system to safeguard Gulf security. Since 1995, France has entered into defense agreements with Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE, and carefully monitors their implementation. Every Middle Eastern conflict is approached by France in a different way, based on the international situation and its past relations with the countries involved. Sometimes France opts to work on a bilateral basis (such as in Lebanon and Iraq), and sometimes within a multilateral framework. Nevertheless there are common attitudes and enduring principles that guide French engagement in the Middle East. French military cooperation in the GCC states is most developed with the UAE, followed by Qatar. Defense agreements concluded between France and these two Gulf states commit France to the defense of their sovereignty. In addition, regular high level military exercises and strategic exchanges take place via the joint military committees constituted under these bilateral defense agreements. Defense cooperation with the UAE, boosted to a great extent by the Offset Program, has opened up new avenues for cooperation in other economic and strategic fields. Although bilateral defense cooperation reached its apogee in the 1990s and now faces serious competition from the United States, such cooperation allowed major French industries in sectors such as water, electricity, transportation and communications, as well as health and education to export their expertise and participate in the training of local companies. The GCC has long sought to maintain and expand cooperative ties with the European Union (EU), which largely inspired its own model for regional integration. The political will to enhance EU–GCC cooperation appears to be present on both sides and is based on the recognition of common interests. Reinforced cooperation between the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council is an important element in facilitating constructive exchanges on the stabilization of the Middle East, the resolution of crises and a reorientation towards a multi-polar world order. Ultimately, bilateral French–Arab cooperation to defend their respective cultures must be preceded by close cultural relations between the parties and a spirit of equality, generosity and mutual desire.

Through 530 pages, Dr Hichem Karoui provides a detailed historical account of France's complex and evolving relationships with the Arab world. Delving into the diplomatic strategies employed by French leaders from Charles de Gaulle to Emmanuel Macron, this book offers a comprehensive analysis of how France navigated its role in the Middle East and North Africa over the decades. Exploring key events, alliances, and conflicts, it sheds light on the intricate web of political considerations that have shaped France's approach towards Arab countries. With meticulous research and insightful commentary, this book illuminates the nuances of French-Arab relations, highlighting the impact of historical legacies and contemporary challenges on the foreign policy decisions of successive French administrations. A must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the intricate dynamics at play in this crucial geopolitical arena. Discover the intricate and often tumultuous relationship between France and the Arab world in "France's Arab Policy: From De Gaulle to Macron." Renowned French scholar and expert in the Arab and Islamic world, Dr. Hichem Karoui, meticulously examines the strategic, political, and cultural dimensions that have shaped France's interactions with Arab nations over the past six decades. From Charles de Gaulle's visionary diplomacy to Emmanuel Macron's contemporary challenges, this comprehensive analysis delves into the key events, decisions, and policies that have defined France's foreign relations in the Middle East and North Africa. Dr Karoui provides an unparalleled perspective on how historical legacies, economic interests, and geopolitical dynamics have influenced France's approach to Arab countries. "France's Arab Policy" offers readers a deep understanding of how French presidents navigated complex alliances, conflicts, and opportunities, revealing the enduring impact of their choices on today's global stage. Whether you are a student of international relations, a historian, or simply intrigued by the dynamics of global diplomacy, this book is an essential addition to your collection. Join Dr. Hichem Karoui on a captivating journey through the past and present of France's Arab policy, uncovering the strategies and stories that continue to shape the future.

Europe and the Arab World is a wide-ranging assessment of the prospects for a new relationship between Europe and the Arab world in the coming years. Samir Amin and Ali El Kenz take as their starting point the significantly shifting balance of political forces within the various Arab countries, including the rise of both political Islam and civil society. They argue that the strategic global hegemony of the United States constitutes a major element affecting the Euro-Arab relationship. They then focus on the European Union initiative, originally launched in Barcelona, to put its relations with the Arab countries of the Mediterranean and Gulf regions on a new footing of equality and mutually beneficial cooperation. The authors provide a detailed empirical account of the initiative as well as an historically contextualized, intellectually critical and politically perceptive analysis of the various realities impacting on it. Samir Amin and Ali El Kenz conclude that, while considerable dialogue and even institution-building have taken place in order to give substance to this attempt to go beyond the colonial legacy of inequality and dependence, little of a concrete kind has been achieved in transforming the underlying economic and political relationships between the Arab Islamic and European Christian worlds of the Mediterranean. Among the many obstacles identified are the overriding and economically deleterious impact of globalized capitalism, and the determination of the United States to impose its own political objectives on the Middle East. The timeliness of this book's argument is highlighted by the new tensions that have accompanied the U.S. military occupation of Iraq and the Bush administration's political pretensions to 'bring democracy' to the whole region.

"Ian Coller's fascinating book explores the making of modern France during the Napoleonic period and under the Restoration 'from the outside inward'. He examines the life of Arab migrants in France: their role as outsiders, and victims, but also as participants in the creation of the modern nation and its empire. In the process he also throws much light on the history of the contemporary Arab Middle East and North Africa."—C.A. Bayly, University of Cambridge

Research for Development in the Middle East and North Africa

Technology Transfer and Change in the Arab World covers the proceedings of the Seminar of the United Nations Economic Commission for Western Asia. The book presents 24 papers that cover concerns in technology transfer in the Arab world. The coverage of the book includes established patterns of technology acquisition in the Arab world; possible mechanisms for the transfer and development of technology; and the transfer of technology and investment policy design. The selection also presents articles that cover resource related technology such as water science and technology in the Middle East since 1945; induced adjustment and the role of agriculture in economic development; and prospects and scope for solar energy. The book will be of great interest to individuals concerned with the technological development in the Middle East.

Relations between the European Union (EU) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are at a crossroads. After the derailment of the negotiations for the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in 2008, the cooperation between the two regional blocs has remained low-key in a number of different areas, while the unprecedented changes that have taken place in North Africa and the Middle East, the common neighbourhood of the EU and the GCC, have not led to a renewed, structured cooperation on foreign and security policy issues. This volume addresses the shortcomings and potential of EU-GCC relations by taking stock of their past evolution and by advancing policy recommendations as to how to revamp this strategic cooperation. In this light, it highlights the areas where greater room for manoeuvre exists in order to enhance EU-GCC relations, discusses the instruments available and sheds light on the features of the regional and international context that are likely to significantly influence the new phase in the mutual relation between the two blocs. The book is the result of the research conducted in the framework of the project ‘Sharaka – Enhancing Understanding and Cooperation in EU-GCC Relations’ co-funded by the European Commission.