Arab-Trans International Research Project

The Arab Transformations Project is an international research consortium which has conducted extensive research focusing on Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq. Its aim is to understand and evaluate political, social, and economic transformations before and after the Arab Uprisings of 2010-2011.

Funded by the European Commission, the survey dataset and collated secondary data gathered between 2000-2015 makes it possible to look comparatively at trends in attitudes, values, and behaviour across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

The Research Project Found:

• The Arab Uprisings were driven primarily by concerns over endemic corruption and economic dislocation.
• Liberal institutions like elections are not enough: people want to live in a ‘decent society’ with economic security and social justice
• The EU can contribute through inclusive development and growth, but existing Free Trade Agreements produce more inequality not less