Economic and Social Commission for

Western Asia (ESCWA): Post-Arab Spring

Reconstruction
Chair: Teja Ganti

EconomicandSocialCommissionforWesternAsia
(ESCWA):PostArabSpringReconstruction
DearDelegates,

Itismydistinctpleasuretowelcomeyoutothe36thVirginiaModelUnitedNations
Conference!IamextremelyexcitedtohaveyouintheEconomicandSocialCommission
forWesternAsia.

MynameisTejaGantiandIamasecondyearattheUniversityofVirginiamajoringin
EconomicsandStatistics.InadditiontotheInternationalRelationsOrganization,Iam
involvedwiththeMadisonHouseandintramuralsports.Inmyfreetime,Ienjoytaking
advantageofCharlottesvillesbeautifullocationbyhikingononeofmanytrailsnear
UVAandhangingoutwithfriends.IhavebeeninvolvedinModelUNfor6yearsand
hopetomakethisconferencethebestIhaveeverexperienced.

Tomakethisafun,interesting,andchallengingexperienceforallthedelegates,this
specializedcommitteewillfunctionabitdifferentlyfromotherspecializedcommittees.
Inthiscommittee,therewillbeintermittentcrisisupdatesfordelegatestodealwith.
Thisisinthehopeofadvancingdebate,allowingdelegatestothinkcritically,andfor
delegatestoreallytesttheirskills.Essentially,thiscommitteewillbesomewhatofa
hybridbetweenacrisiscommitteeandaspecializedcommittee.However,donotbe
afraidoftheideaofhavingcrisisupdatesifyourenewtothem.Thefrequencyof
updateswillbelessthanthatofacrisiscommittee,butalittlemorethanthatofa
typicalspecializedcommittee.Wewillgooverrulesandproceduresbeforethestartof
thefirstsession.

Inthiscommittee,wewillbeaddressingpressingandcontemporaryissues.Thetopics
wewilldiscussduringdebatehaverealeffectsonrealpeople.TheArabSpringwasa
revolutionarytimeperiodduringwhichthereweredemonstrationsandprotests,both
violentandnonviolent,thatbeganwiththeTunisianRevolutiononDecember18,2010
andspreadthroughouttheArabworld.Thisbodywillspecificallyfocusonbetteringthe
regionviaeffortsofcommitteemembers.Weaddresstheissuesofsocialinjusticeand
economicdownturn.Ihopethateachandeverysingledelegatecomespreparedwith
thoughtoutanddetailedideasfortheproblemsdiscussedinthebackgroundguide.
Withthatbeingsaid,Iamexcitedtoseewhateveryonehastobringtothetablethisfall!

Sincerely,

TejaGanti
Chair
tsg5uc@virginia.edu
1

EconomicandSocialCommissionforWesternAsia
(ESCWA):PostArabSpringReconstruction
CommitteeOverview

TheUnitedNationsEconomicandSocialCommissionforWesternAsia(ESCWA)
operatesundertheUnitedNationsEconomicandSocialCouncil,alongwithfourother
RegionalCommissions.ESCWAisaframeworkforcooperationwhichaimstopromote
economicandsocialdevelopmentintheregion.TheCommissioniscomprisedof17
predominantlyArabmemberstates.Itcurrentlyhas7subsidiarybodies,whichmeet
biannually,excepttheCommitteeonTransportwhomeetseachyear.Theothersixare
theStatisticalCommittee,theCommitteeonSocialDevelopment,theCommitteeon
Energy,theCommitteeonWaterResources,theTechnicalCommitteeonLiberalization
ofForeignTrade,EconomicGlobalizationandFinancingforDevelopment,andthe
CommitteeonWomen.
ECOSOCresolution1818laysoutthatESCWAismandatedtoparticipateinthe
economicreconstructionanddevelopmentofWesternAsia,raisethelevelofeconomic
activityinWesternAsia,andstrengtheneconomicrelationsofthecountriesofthat
areabothamongthemselvesandwithothercountriesoftheworld.Thiswasexpanded
toincludesocialissuesasperMemberStatesrequestandtoreflecttheirgrowing
prominence.ESCWAisalsoaplatformforglobalUNideasandregionalfeedbackinthe
WesternAsiaregion.Itprovidesamechanismfordeliveringglobalpolicyguidelines,
insteadofMemberStatesimmediatelyadoptingthemwithouttailoringthemtotheir
particularneeds.ESCWAservesasaninvaluableforumforacademics,technical
experts,andhighlevelMemberStateofficials.TheUNprovidesESCWAs
administrativebudgetandderivesfundsforprogramsandprojectsfromotherdonors.

EconomicandSocialCommissionforWesternAsia
(ESCWA):PostArabSpringReconstruction
ESCWAprovidesanenvironmenttodiscusstheMillenniumDevelopmentGoals
(MDGs)andotherdevelopmentframeworks.

RefugeeInfluxintheESCWARegion

TheincreasingnumberofrefugeeswithintheESCWAregionisaconcerntoward
themonetaryandsocialimprovementforallESCWAMemberStates.Asrefugeesmove
intohostnations,theycontendwithsubjectsforassets,openadministrations,and
1

employmentsthiscanimpedemonetaryandsocialadvancement .Moreover,Member
Statesinconflictareas,suchasSyria,encountersocialandmonetaryoutcomesof
refugeesleavingthenation.Meanwhile,refugeesandIDPsarevictimsofconflict,and
loseopportunitiesandaccessinrelationtoeconomicandsocialdevelopment.Asthe
motivationbehindESCWAistoadvanceprovincialbackingwithaspecificendgoalto
accomplishfeasiblemonetaryandsocialimprovement,itisuptothemembersof
ESCWAtofindsolutionstoaddresstheinfluxofrefugeesforMemberStatesand
2

solutionsfortheeconomicandsocialneedsoftherefugees .InadditiontotheSyrian
refugees,thereareanexpected1.2millionIraqiIDPsand850,000displacedpeople
becauseofthedevelopingclashwiththeIslamicStateofIraqandtheLevant(ISIL).The
UNHighCommissionerforRefugees(UNHCR)reportedthatbytheendof2013,
Yemenhostedanestimated500,000refugeesfromSomalia,344,000YemeniIDPs,and

CharteroftheUnitedNations.(1945).11July2014.
https://treaties.un.org/doc/publication/ctc/uncharter.pdf
2
EuropeanCouncilonRefugeesandExiles.(2014).WhoAreRefugees?[Website].21August2014.
http://www.ecre.org/refugees/refugees/whoarerefugees.html
1

EconomicandSocialCommissionforWesternAsia
(ESCWA):PostArabSpringReconstruction
3

649,300refugeesfromSudan .Additionally,therearethe58recognizedPalestinian
refugeecampsandanestimated5millionregisteredPalestinianrefugeesthroughout
theESCWAregion.
Ontheground,UNHCRcoordinatesamongUNagencies,NGOs,andhosting
MemberStatestogivehelptorefugees,includingtransitoryasylumincampsand
4

providingneedssuchasaccesstofood,water,andmedicalcare .Withrespecttothe
Syriandisplacedpersonemergency,UNHCRisdirectingtheplannedendeavorsfor
individualrefugeecampsandurbanintegrationsitesthroughoutTurkey,Egypt,Iraq,
5

Jordan,andLebanon .Inresponsetothecontinuedcivilwar,theUNHCRframedthe
mainSyrianProvincialReactionArrangementin2012,whichhadasixmonthmandate.
However,consideringthecontinuationofthecommonwar,thedevelopingnumberof
refugees,andmeasureofrecuperationtimerequiredoncehostilesstop,thelengthofthe
mandatewasincreasedtoenvelopanentireyearwithmidyearupgradesasofnow,the
6

6thTerritorialReactionArrangement(RRP6)issetup .
UNHCRinitiatedtheSyrianTerritorialReactionPlantocreatethorough
methodologiesthroughMemberStateandUNagencycoordinationtoaddressissues
facingrefugeessuchastemporaryhousing,accesstoresources,andsubsidizationto
7

providehelpfortherefugees .UNHCRhasalsodevelopedtheSyrianHumanitarian

AmnestyInternational.(2014).WhoisaRefugee?[Website].20August2014.
http://www.amnesty.org/en/refugeesandmigrants/rightsofrefugeesandmigrants
4
InternationalEnergyAgency.(2014).GlobalEngagement[Website].12August2014.
http://www.iea.org/aboutus/globalengagement/
5
CharteroftheUnitedNations
6
Jolly,R.&L.Emmerij.(2010).UNRegionalContributions:WesternAsia.5August2014.
http://www.unhistory.org/briefing/22WestAsia.pdf12
7
NaturalResourceGovernanceInstitute.(2014).AboutNRGI[Website].12August2014.
http://www.resourcegovernance.org/about
3

EconomicandSocialCommissionforWesternAsia
(ESCWA):PostArabSpringReconstruction
AssistanceResponsePlan(SHARP)asameanstoassistIDPswithinSyria.In2013,on
theeffectoftheinfluxofSyrianrefugeesonLebanesefinancialandsocialimprovement.
Additionally,ESCWAmetwithLebanese,Syrian,andJordanianspecialistsina
SpecialistBunchMeetingatESCWAbasecampin2013totalkaboutthemonetaryand
socialconnectionsamongSyria,Lebanon,andJordan,alongwiththefinancial
ramificationsoftheinfluxofSyrianrefugees.
InordertoaddresstheissuessurroundingrefugeeswithintheESCWAregion,it
8

isimportanttoknowthedefinitionsandclassificationsofrefugees .Apersonorpersons
havingtoleavetheirhomeinordertoescapewar,oppression,orterrorisknownasa
forciblydisplacedperson.Refugees,IDPs,asylumseekers,andstatelesspersonsare
differentcategoriesofforciblydisplacedpersons.Refugeesdifferfrommigrantsintwo
fundamentalways:refugeesleavetheirnationoforiginunderthreatofharm,andthey
9

seekprotectionthroughinternationallaw .
RecentconflictsthroughouttheMiddlehavehamperedsocialandmonetary
advancementforsomeESCWAindividuals.TheSyrianconflictashadthebiggesteffect
onindividualsfromtheESCWAarea.TheinitialflowofrefugeesfromfromSyriainto
theneighboringcountriesofLebanonandJordanwasmaintainablehowever,asthe
conflicthascontinued,therefugeescontinuetocrossoverintothesenationsandcause
10

incrediblestrainondifferentsocialandmonetaryresources .Syrianrefugeeshaveput
astrainonaccessiblewater,sanitation,andelectricalresources.Additionally,thishas
OrganizationofArabPetroleumExportingCountries.(2014).JointVentures[Website].25October
2014.http://www.oapecorg.org/Home/AboutUs/SponsoredVentures
9
NewZealand,MinistryofForeignAffairs.(2013).UnitedNationsHandbook201314.11July2014.
http://www.mfat.govt.nz/downloads/mediaandpublications/UNHandbook2013web%20PDF.pdf
10
NaturalResourceGovernanceInstitute.
8

EconomicandSocialCommissionforWesternAsia
(ESCWA):PostArabSpringReconstruction
madeanoppositionamongstrefugeesandthenationalsofLebanonforresources,thus
provokinghatredfromresidentsagainsttherefugees.Lebanonhasseenanincreasein
itsunemploymentrate,estimatedat20%,andmanycitizensblamerefugeesfortheloss
ofjobs.TheSyrianrefugeecrisishascausedLebanon,onceconsideredthemost
developedMemberStateintheregion,tonowstrugglefromthecontinuedinfluxof
refugeesneedingjobs,education,andhealthcare.
Egypt,Iraq,Jordan,Lebanon,andTurkeyarecurrentlyhostingSyrianrefugees
andrefugeecampsandcoordinatingwiththeSyrianCrisisResponsethroughtheUN
11

WorldFoodProgram(WFP) .Inordertocoordinateitsestimated600,000Syrian
refugees,JordanhasestablishedtheSyrianRefugeeAffairsDepartment(SRAD).SRAD
coordinateswithgovernmentagenciestoprovideaid,protection,andlegalprotection
12

fortheSyrianrefugeeswithinthemanycampsinJordan .

QuestionstoConsider
1. WhatarethemonetaryandsocialimplicationsofthecontinuationoftheSyrian
conflictandinfluxofrefugeesonindividualMemberStates?
2. Howdoesthetreatmentoftherefugeesaffecttheeconomicandsocialstabilityof
theMemberStates?
3. WhatactivitiescanESCWArecommendthatwouldenhancethelivesofthe
Syrianrefugees?

11

SyriaIraq:TheIslamicStatemilitantgroup.(2014,August2).BBCNews.20August2014.
http://www.bbc.com/news/worldmiddleeast24179084
12
UnitedNations,EconomicandSocialCommissionforWesternAsia.(2009).ESCWAinBrief
[BackgroundNote].11July2014.http://www.escwa.un.org/about/ESCWAinbrief.pdf

EconomicandSocialCommissionforWesternAsia
(ESCWA):PostArabSpringReconstruction
4. HowcanMemberStatesadvancefinancialdevelopmentandpoliticalsteadiness
withagrowingrefugeepopulation?

EnergyDemands

Energyproduction,policy,consumptionandtradeshapesmodernday
developmentintheMiddleEast,moresothanalmostanyotherregionintheworld.The
influxofoilindustrynationalizationthatsweptacrosstheregioninthe1970screatedan
unprecedentedwealthandchallenges.Thiswascloselyfollowedbythediscoveryof
13

naturalgasdepositsandsimilarexploitation .Thiscircumstancehaspromptedthe
developmentoftheMiddleEast,theterritoryofcenterfortheEconomicandSocial
CommissionforWesternAsia(ESCWA),astheworld'spremiersupplierofenergy.Data
estimatesthattheMiddleEasthasmorethan43%oftheworldsoilreservesandnearly
aquarterofthenaturalgas.Energyproductionbecomescrucialwhenplacedwithinthe
14

contextofbothglobalandregionalgrowingenergydemand .
Itisalsoimportanttodrawadistinctionbetweenrenewableenergy(RE)and
sustainableenergy.REisdeliveredfromsourcesthatarenormallyrenewedaftersome
time,forexample,windorwater.Sustainableenergyaimstoavoidadverseimpactson
futureenergyproductionandencompassessome,butnotallREsources.Infact,even
someREsourcesmaynotbepracticalhydropower'senvironmentaleffect,forinstance,

UnitedNations,EconomicandSocialCommissionforWesternAsia.(2009).ESCWAinBrief
[BackgroundNote].11July2014.http://www.escwa.un.org/about/ESCWAinbrief.pdf
14
UnitedNations,EconomicandSocialCommissionforWesternAsia.(2012).Reportonthe27thSession
(E/ESCWA/27/9).11July2014.
http://www.escwa.un.org/about/gov/sessions/editor/Download.asp?table_name=sess26_menu&field_n
ame=ID&FileID=167
13

EconomicandSocialCommissionforWesternAsia
(ESCWA):PostArabSpringReconstruction
hasbeencomparedtothatofcoalplants,becauseofhighmethanegeneration,habitat
destruction,anddiminishedwaterquality.Windandsolarasedenergyinnovationshave
beenesteemedthemostfeasible,whichlooksgoodfortheESCWAareabecauseoftheir
15

resourceabundance .TheMiddleEastisprojectedtobecomeamajorenergymarketby
2025theregionsdomesticoildemandisprojectedtoincreasesignificantly,dueto
urbanization,subsidization,andweakenergyregulationmechanisms.Evenwith
increasedconsumption,onefifthoftheArabpopulationliveinimpoverishedurban
16

areasandrelyonnoncommercialfuelsforenergyuses .
In2003ArabMinistersgatheredataregionalenergyconferencewherethey
attemptedtocreateaunifiedstanceontheissues,andaddresstheirrighttosustainably
benefitfromtheirnaturalresources.TheyadoptedtheAbuDhabiDeclaration,which
whichcalleduponindustrialized,energydevouringcountriestoabstainfrom
approacheshurtfultoArabnations,suchasoppressivestrategiesagainstoil,gas,and
theirproducts.Thereisalsoanemphasisoncreatingplanstodiminishtheeffectsof
climatechange.Finally,thedeclarationcalledforadditionalinvestmentandgreater
17

integrationintheArabenergysectorasawhole .
TheOrganizationofPetroleumExportingCountries(OPEC)hasassumeda
pivotalroleintheESCWAregion.OPECwasfoundedin1960byIran,Iraq,Kuwait,
SaudiArabiaandVenezuela.Itscurrentrosterofmembershasbeenexpandedto

UnitedNations,EconomicandSocialCommissionforWesternAsia.(2014).ArabIntegration:A21st
CenturyDevelopmentImperative[Report].11July2014.
http://www.escwa.un.org/main/ai14/SummaryEng.pdf
16
OrganizationofArabPetroleumExportingCountries.(2014).JointVentures[Website].25October
2014.http://www.oapecorg.org/Home/AboutUs/SponsoredVentures
17
OrganizationofArabPetroleumExportingCountries.(2014).Establishment[Website].12July2014.
http://www.oapecorg.org/Home/AboutUs/History
15

EconomicandSocialCommissionforWesternAsia
(ESCWA):PostArabSpringReconstruction
includeQatar,Libya,theUnitedArabEmirates(UAE),Algeria,Nigeria,Ecuador,and
Angola.In1968,itissuedaDeclaratoryStatementofPetroleumPolicyinMember
Countriesaccentuatingallnations'unavoidablerighttopracticetheirpower,over
18

theirdifferentnaturalresources,andintheinterestoftheirnationaldevelopment .
OPEC'scentralgoalistoadjustpetroleumpoliciesamongitsmembercountries
securingfairandstablecostsforproducingcountriespracticalcostsforconsumer
nations.
Anotherkeydomesticdemanddrivenindustryistherefiningofpetroleum.
RefiningcapacityintheArabworldstoodat7.83millionbarrels/day,whichis8.5%of
19

globalrefiningefforts .Thishasalsoprovidedfeedstockfortheenergyintensive
petrochemicalindustry,whichisseenbyArabgovernmentsasawaytodiversify
investmentandaddtothevaluechain.Petrochemicalsproductionexploitsnaturalgas
thatcouldhavebeenotherwisewasted.
EnergypricesandelectricityintheESCWAregionareamongthecheapestinthe
world.Currentsubsidizedenergytariffsarehotlydebatedtopicwhilepolitically
popular,theyareadrainongovernmentbudgets,accumulatedemand,andinhibit
investmentinotherformsofenergy.Theregionhasoneofthemostelevatedenergy
utilizationratesandtheleastenergyefficienciespercapita,withdifferingdegreesover

IraqcrisisposeseconomicthreattoLebanonandJordan:ESCWA.(2014,July8).TheDailyStar:
Lebanon.11July2014.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Business/Local/2014/Jul08/263004iraqcrisisposeseconomicthreattol
ebanonandjordanescwa.ashx#axzz37D35SAti
19
InternationalInstituteforSustainableDevelopment.(2014).ImplementingSustainableEnergyfor
AllandHighLevelLuncheonontheSE4ALLGlobalEnergyEfficiencyAcceleratorPlatform[Website].
26October2014.http://www.iisd.ca/energy/se4all/se/
18

EconomicandSocialCommissionforWesternAsia
(ESCWA):PostArabSpringReconstruction
thearea.Subsidizationalsoincreasesdemandforfuelsforconsumptioninthetransport
sector.
TheresourcewealththattheESCWAregionenjoys,andthesubsequentpolicies
adoptedtomanageanddevelopthem,posesignificantchallengesthatrequireextensive
planning,investment,andcooperation.Theenergyleddevelopmentmodelhasleft
countriesvulnerabletopricefluctuations,climatechangeeffects,andsocialunrest.

QuestionstoConsider
1. Whatarethepolicyalternativesthatnationshaveatbothnationalandlocal
levelstobetterdealwiththeirenergy?
2. Howcannationsbetteradjustinterestinexistinghydrocarbonproduction
andsubsidizationlimitsintoREandEEadvancements?
3. Howdoesenergyfitwithinthepost2015developmentagendaandinwhat
capacitycannationsadjustnationallevelobjectivestothesustainable
developmentgoals?

CounteringRadicalization
Radicalismandfanaticismaretwoimperativeissuesfrequentlyassociatedwith
eachotherandcanbeconsideredwithregardstoterrorismandcounterterrorism.A
largeportionofthesystemscreatedtocounterradicalismandfanaticismaremore
20

closelyrelatedtodevelopment,peacebuildingandconflictprevention .Fanaticism

InternationalEnergyForum.(2014).IEFOverview[Website].12August2014.
http://www.ief.org/aboutief/iefoverview.aspx
20

10

EconomicandSocialCommissionforWesternAsia
(ESCWA):PostArabSpringReconstruction
differsfromcircumstancetocircumstance,butisassociatedwithviolenceresultingfrom
radicalpolitical,social,andreligiousbeliefsystemsandgroupsthatrejecttheruleof
law.However,radicalismcanbedefinedasaconcentrationofthefocusofrelevanceon
aparticularprinciple,attheexpenseofthetraditionallysanctionedregardforthe
complexitiesofcontext,andcanencompasseverypartoflifeinordertoadhereto
21

principles .Radicalismisassociatedwithpoliticalandideologicalconvictionsthatcan
beusedtoimpactpositivesocietalchangeorcanformintoaviolentthreatof
extremism,andisnotinterchangeablewithterrorism.
Understandingthecontrastsbetweenfanaticism,radicalism,andterrorismis
imperativeincounteringthenegativeimpactsofradicalizationattherootcauseand
gettingridoftheexistenceofextremistgroups.Italsoallowsforafullimplementation
ofcountermeasuresthroughtheformsofeconomicandsocialdevelopment.Radical
gatheringsrepresentadangertothepeaceandsecurityofESCWAregion.Peaceand
securityintheregionisinterconnectedwithsocialandeconomicdevelopment.
Socioeconomicstrategiesaresignificantinordertocombatsourcesofradicalismand
extremism,thusprotectingthecitizensoftheregionandcontributingtooverallregional
22

development .
ItwastheorderoftheSecurityCounciltokeepupglobalpeaceandsecurity
throughtheadoptionofresolution1373(2001),whichestablishedtheSecurityCouncil

InternationalEnergyAgency.(2014).GlobalEngagement[Website].12August2014.
http://www.iea.org/aboutus/globalengagement/
22
Fattouh,B.&L.ElKatiri.(2012).EnergySubsidiesintheArabWorld:ArabHumanDevelopment
Report.12July2014.
http://www.arabhdr.org/publications/other/ahdrps/Energy%20SubsidiesBassam%20FattouhFinal.pdf
21

11

EconomicandSocialCommissionforWesternAsia
(ESCWA):PostArabSpringReconstruction
23

CounterTerrorismCommittee(CTC) .AsawaytoexpandthepowersoftheCTC,the
SecurityCounciladoptedresolution1566(2004)whichstandardizedtheUNdefinition
forterrorismascriminalacts,includingagainstcivilians,committedwiththeintentto
causedeathorseriousbodilyinjury,ortakingofhostages,withthepurposetoprovokea
stateofterrorinthegeneralpublicorcompelagovernmentoraninternational
24

organizationtodoortoabstainfromdoinganyact. Theresolutionalsoencourages
regionalUNentitiestodevelopcooperationwithinternationalandregional
organizations.
Peacebuildingandcapacitybuildingeffortscanonlybeusefulandsustainableif
thereisfinancialandsocialadvancementinsideanarea.TheMillenniumDeclaration
(2000)promotedtheconnectionbetweendevelopmentandpeacekeepingby
emphasizingthatalackofsocioeconomicdevelopmentblockscomprehensiveandfair
administration.AftertheadoptionoftheUNMillenniumDeclaration,eightMillennium
DevelopmentGoals(MDGs)werelaterestablishedfortheinternationalcommunityto
reachby2015intendedtocultivatefinancialandsocialimprovement.
In2013,anadvisoryboardledbyExecutiveSecretaryofESCWA,RimaKhalaf,
25

releasedareportcalledArabIntegration:A21stCenturyDevelopmentImperative.
ThisreportdiagramshowusingasharedArabidentitycanbeanumbrellathemefor
policiesrelatedtopolitical,economic,andculturaldevelopmentwithinMemberStates.

23

EuropeanCouncilonRefugeesandExiles.(2014).WhoAreRefugees?[Website].21August2014.
http://www.ecre.org/refugees/refugees/whoarerefugees.html
24
ArabLeaguefallingshortinrefugeeaid:AbuFaour.(2013,November4).TheDailyStar:Lebanon.15
August2014.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/LebanonNews/2013/Nov04/236800arableaguefallingshortinre
fugeeaidabufaour.ashx#axzz3BEcLlSk9
25
EuropeanCouncilonRefugeesandExiles.

12

EconomicandSocialCommissionforWesternAsia
(ESCWA):PostArabSpringReconstruction
Anotherregionalactorconcentratingoncounteringradicalismandfanaticisminthe
ESCWAdistrictistheOrganizationoftheIslamicCooperation(OICTheOIChas57
individuals,andplanstosecurethecommoninterestsoftheindividualsandcontinue
thecollaborationandsolidarityoftheIslamicworld.InMay2014,AmbassadorOmur
Orhun,arepresentativeoftheOICGeneralSecretariat,meetwiththeUNDevelopment
ProgrammeGlobalExpertConsultationonRadicalizationanditsImpactfor
26

Development,ViolencePreventionandConflictResolution.
Itisimportanttodeterminethepoliticalandsocioeconomicsourcesof
radicalizationandextremismbeforedevelopingcountermeasures.Radicalismismore
likelytotakeholdandgarnersupportfromthepopulationwhennegativesocial,
economic,andpoliticaltrendsconvergeinacountryorregion,suchaspovertyor
politicaldisenfranchisementnafewcases,radicalismhappensnotasanimmediate
consequenceofpoverty,butratherintheacknowledgmentoffinancialandsocial
imbalances.Anotherreasonforradicalizationcanoriginatefromtheencountersof
youthintheESCWAdistrictspecifically,thiscanhappentoyouthwholiveinWestern
nationswho,aftercomingbacktotheirnation,seealackofopportunitiesand
socioeconomicdisparitybetweenthecountries.
Inordertocounterradicalismonabroaderscale,policiesonterritorialand
nationallevelsoughttoconcentrateonmonetary,social,andpoliticaldevelopmentand
dependability.Approachestoradicalismandextremismmustalsoencompassasmany
aspectsofsocietyaspossible,includingthosealreadythathavecommittedviolentacts

26

IraqcrisisposeseconomicthreattoLebanonandJordan:ESCWA.
13

EconomicandSocialCommissionforWesternAsia
(ESCWA):PostArabSpringReconstruction
ofextremism.AlthoughMemberStatesareobligatedtoimplementandstronglyenforce
lawsthatpunishextremistsandthoserecruitingtowardsextremism,prisonscanthen
27

becomerecruitmentcentersforterroristandextremistgroups .Conventional
techniquesfordebilitationandregulationofterroristsorsuspectedterroristshave
resultedinrallyingpointsforrecruitment,whereasreformingandrehabilitationof
terroristsandradicalsthroughgroupandindividualcounselinglikethesystemusedin
SaudiArabiatendstobemoreeffectiveandlesspublicized.Bymakingmonetary
advancementandsocialincorporationaneed,MemberStatesinsidetheESCWAdistrict
canmakeopeningsforworkrequiredforyouthpopulationsandmoderateradicalizing
28

underestimatedgroups .
AsgroupslikeISIL,ISIS,andAlQaidagrow,populationswithintheESCWA
regionwillcontinuetoneedeffortsforstrengtheningsocioeconomicdevelopment,
combatinginequality,andpoliciesthatencompassallaspectsofsociety.Governments
likewiseshouldconsiderthemaindriversofradicalizationandthedistinctionsamong
radicalism,violentfanaticism,andterrorismwhilecounteringthenegativeimpactsof
29

thesetheoriesthroughsocialandfinancialdevelopment .Itisalsoimportantto
compareandimplementcounterextremismagendasandencouragesocialand
economicdevelopmentinordertoaddressradicalization.Closeattentiontoradicalism
andfanaticismwillpermitESCWAandMemberStatestocounterradicalismthrough

OrganizationofArabPetroleumExportingCountries.
UnitedNations,EconomicandSocialCommissionforWesternAsia.
29
SyriaIraq:TheIslamicStatemilitantgroup
27
28

14

EconomicandSocialCommissionforWesternAsia
(ESCWA):PostArabSpringReconstruction
socialandfinancialdevelopment,thuscontributingtotheoveralldevelopmentand
30

peaceandsecurityoftheESCWAregion .

QuestionstoConsider
1. InwhatwayscanMemberStatesbeencouragedtodevelopcounterextremism
measures?
2. Cancitizensbeencouragedtoexchangeideasonhowtobestcounter
radicalization?
3. WhatwouldadefinitionforradicalismandfanaticismlooklikefortheESCWA
locale?
4. DoesArabintegrationapproachencompasseveryoneintheESCWAregion,and
ifnot,howshouldESCWAdiscussthis?

30

NewZealand,MinistryofForeignAffairs.
15

EconomicandSocialCommissionforWesternAsia
(ESCWA):PostArabSpringReconstruction
GuidelinesforResearch
Whilethebackgroundguideisprovidedtobeatoolinyourresearchintothecommittee,
itshouldnotbeyouronlyone.Inordertokickstartyourresearch,hereareafew
resourcesthatwouldbeusedincomplementwiththisbackgroundguidetohelpgainan
understandingofthecommitteeandyourdelegation.
EnergySubsidiesintheArabWorld:ArabHumanDevelopmentReport:
http://www.arabhdr.org/publications/other/ahdrps/Energy%20SubsidiesBass
am%20FattouhFinal.pdf
ESCWA:SyrianLaborIncreasesUnemploymentandGrowthinLebanon:
http://www.syrianef.org/En/2014/01/escwasyrianlaborincreasesunemploym
entandgrowthinlebanon/
ReportoftheSecretaryGeneralontheImplementationofSecurityCouncil
Resolution2139:
http://www.securitycouncilreport.org/atf/cf/%7B65BFCF9B6D274E9C8CD3
CF6E4FF96FF9%7D/s_2014_525.pdf
InternationalEnergyOutlook:
http://www.eia.gov/forecasts/ieo/pdf/0484(2013).pdf
ReligiousRadicalisminCentralAsia:
http://www.eia.gov/forecasts/ieo/pdf/0484(2013).pdf

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EconomicandSocialCommissionforWesternAsia
(ESCWA):PostArabSpringReconstruction
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19

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direct all inquiries and comments to our Secretary-General.
Gary DePalo
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