EH.N: CfP: Session, "Between Empire and Nation States: Continuity and change in the Economies of the Middle East and North Africa in the 20th Century"

[Jacob Metzer]

Call for papers for the session: Between Empire 
and Nation States: Continuity and change in the 
Economies of the Middle East and North Africa in 
the 20th Century. XVth World Economic History 
Congress, Utrecht, The Netherlands, August 3 to 
7, 2009 http://www.wehc2009.org

The Middle East passed through two great 
transitions in the 20th Century: The demise of 
the Ottoman Empire and its replacement by 
European rule over a good part of the region in 
the aftermath of WWI, and the post WWII 
transition from foreign rule to statehood. These 
transitions should serve as useful anchors for 
comparatively examining dimensions of continuity 
and change in the economies of the greater Middle 
East (including North Africa, which was partially 
dominated by European powers already in the 19th 
Century) over the period concerned.

The session aims at doing that by focusing on the 
broad interrelated terrains of political economy, 
institutions, and economic growth. We are 
particularly interested in studying structures 
and policies, and in exploring the interplay and 
possible tension between tradition and modernity 
in the institutional frameworks of economic 
activity during and following the two great 
transitions. This endeavor should produce fresh 
perspectives and insights on the factors which 
may have enhanced or constrained economic growth 
in the region.


Proposals for single and/or multi country papers 
covering the Arab countries, Palestine-Israel, 
Turkey and Iran, are invited. We expect the 
proposed papers to dwell, within the above- 
suggested time span and foci, on subjects such as 
public economics (including fiscal systems, macro 
and trade policies); private-public mix in 
economic activity, price determination, and 
resource allocation; property rights, land tenure 
and legal systems, and their growth related 
attributes. We would also welcome proposals on 
micro extensions of these subjects, for instance, 
in areas of industrial organization, 
entrepreneurship, and business culture.

If you are interested in presenting a paper at 
the session please send your proposal before 
October 1st, 2008 to the session organizers:

Jacob Metzer
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
msmetzer at mscc.huji.ac.il

and/or
Sevket Pamuk
Bogaziçi University, Istanbul
and the London School of Economics and Political 
Science, pamuks at ttnet.net.tr or s.pamuk at lse.ac.uk