The results of economic interdependence in Euro Mediterranean Region to South Mediterranean states

Starting with the Barcelona Process of 1995, the socio-economic relations in the Euro-Mediterranean area had deepened in terms of more intense trading relations, foreign direct investment, tourism and direct economic aid among countries in the region. This thesis aims to examine the effects and the results of the resulting economic dependency of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon on the European Union mostly due to the Euro-Mediterranean cooperation initiative. Using Neo-Liberal Institutionalist and Historical Institutionalist approaches against the modern world-systems framework, this thesis evaluates the impact of this economic dependency and its implications on the political and economic development in these countries for the years between 2003 and 2013. This thesis utilizes the Gleditsh formula to point out the economic dependency level of trading countries, a World Bank data report to lay out the growth level of South-Med countries and the impact of open trade in growth capacity, and Eurostat to show the improvement on the manufactured and industrial goods and their share in the total economy of South-Med countries. To assess the impact of this economic dependency on social conditions, it is elaborated that the economic reasons for the Arab Spring are assumed to play an important role. Finally, to assess the political impact of this dependency, Freedom House data is used to lay out how institutional capacity and economic crisis played a role into political outcomes. The results of this thesis lay out the various political and economic effects of the economic dependency, and highlight the economic addiction of the South-Med countries and its consequences, particularly in regard to the Euro-Crisis in the region. There seems to be positive political developments in regards to democratization. However, together with the economic dependency, institutional capacity seems to be playing an important role on the democratic development goals of South Mediterranean countries. Key Words: Euro Mediterranean Partnership, Economic Dependency, Economic Development, Democratic Development, International Political Economy