Richard Estes, MSW, DSW
ProfessorFaculty Bio Page | Biosketch (pdf) | Curriculum Vitae (pdf) | Homepage
Recent Publications | Selected Papers | Selected PowerPoint Presentations
Press Photo
Research - Current Projects
Social Development Trends in the Near- and Middle East
Project Description:
The nations of the Middle East have arrived at a historic crossroad. Anchored in centuries-old political and economic systems, bitter ethnic rivalries, recurrent intra-regional warfare, and rising fundamentalism, the majority of the region's countries have remained largely apart from the transformative processes that are shaping development in other world regions. Indeed, the impression exists that no development "miracles" are occurring in the Middle East and that, to a very great extent, the region is seeking to remain on the "sidelines" of modern history. And, yet, if the countries of the Middle East are to flourish in the next century they, too, must restructure themselves for dealing with the complex realities associated with increasing globalization and internationalization.
This project examined the social development successes and failures of 22 Middle Eastern countries between 1970 and 1997. Also identified were the region's Social Leaders (SLs), Socially Least Developing Countries (SLDCs), and Middle Performing Countries (MPCs). The social, political, and economic factors most closely associated with each country's development classification are identified.
Project Sponsors:
Arab Planning Institute; and the African Training and Research Center in Administration for Development
Project Dates:
1997-98
Project Staff:
Richard J. Estes, Principal Investigator
Research Sites:
22 countries of North Africa and Western Asia
Related Publications:
Estes, Richard J. (1999). "Social development trends in the Middle East, 1970-1997: The search for modernity," Social Indicators Research 50 (1):51-81.
Estes, Richard J. (2000). "Social development trends in the Middle East, 1970-1995: Implications for Social Policy Reform," in Belkacem Labbas (Editor) Building and Sustaining the Capacity for Social Policy Reforms (Aldershot: Ashgate Publishers), pp. 17-46.
