The Triumph of the Nation-State Paradigm
Al-Ahram, Egypt, August 7
The end of the bloody turmoil that engulfed parts of the Arab world began in the wake of the Arab Spring, when a number of Arab nations embarked on ambitious national projects designed to turn long-held aspirations into tangible achievements by 2030.
This “end” is symbolic—a transition from one kind of state to another. Alongside the collapse of militia-run territories, the monarchies of the Gulf, Jordan, and Morocco, as well as Egypt, stood firm. These countries safeguarded the concept of the nation-state and undertook essential reforms to close the gaps through which chaotic, leaderless movements and ideologically driven religious factions had infiltrated. Their paths toward reform, development, peace, and economic and social transformation took different forms, but they shared a common resolve.
Despite the formidable challenges posed by the revolutionary era, the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood, and rapid population growth, Egypt broke free from the confines of the Nile Valley to reclaim and expand its maritime, coastal, and lake territories. Even as the population doubled, Egypt weathered the storms of terrorism, the COVID-19 pandemic, and geopolitical crises, refusing to succumb to them.
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The emerging stance of this bloc of countries is perhaps best captured in Saudi Arabia’s bold embrace of rapid economic growth, its determined execution of Vision 2030, and its diversification of income sources to reduce its longstanding, precarious dependence on oil. Within this transformation, Saudi society integrated its youth and women into public life, bridged sectarian divides with its Shiite minority, and shed an earlier phase marked by rigid conservatism, tradition, extremism, and fanaticism.
The United Arab Emirates offered yet another model—first through Dubai’s adaptation of Singapore’s economic dynamism to the Arab context, then through Abu Dhabi’s commitment to a market economy enriched by human diversity, religious and sectarian tolerance, and a forward-looking pursuit of advancements in science and technology.
Jordan and Morocco pursued internal reforms that calmed youth discontent and countered the recklessness of the Muslim Brotherhood and similar groups. These experiences reverberated across the Arab world, inspiring other nations to adopt and champion the nation-state paradigm, revitalize religious discourse, and work toward a regional vision built on peace, sustainable development, and enduring progress.
Abdel Moneim Saeed (translated by Asaf Zilberfarb)
