The Economics of Peace in The Middle East (from 'The New Middle East' by Shimon Peres)

Article Title: The Economics of Peace in The Middle East (from 'The New Middle East' by Shimon Peres)
Submitted by: Craig Lock
Key Words: Books, Shimon Peres, Middle East, economics, Israel, peace, 'Economy of Peace', possibilities for peace, leadership, politics, world (enough there now, craig!)
Craig's new blog is at http://en.search.wordpress.com/?q=%22craig+lock%22 and craiglock.wordpress.com
Other Articles are available at:
http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/user/15565 and
http://www.ideamarketers.com/library/profile.cfm?writerid=981
(Personal growth, self help, writing, internet marketing, spiritual, 'spiritual writings' (how 'airey-fairey'), words of inspiration and money management, how boring now, craig

Publishing Guidelines:
This article (consisting of points, principles and ideas) is directly sourced from an excellent book, 'THE NEW MIDDLE EAST' by Shimon Peres with Arye Naor and was published in Great Britain by Element Books Ltd 1993.

"We share what we know, so that we all may grow."

*

THE ECONOMICS OF PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST (from 'THE NEW MIDDLE EAST' by Shimon Peres with Arye Naor)

Submitter's Note:
I am currently reading and researching a fascinating book, 'THE NEW MIDDLE EAST' by former Israeli Prime Minister and current President, Shimon Peres (with Arye Naor), especially in the light of current world events. So am sharing some thoughts and ideas of Mr Peres directly sourced from this book (the first three chapters). I'm sharing in the "spirit of just trying to plant tiny seeds of ideas of peace in a current 'hot-spot' of the world, a tinderbox." Hopefully! Whether you agree with the words of Mr Peres written in 1993 or not, I hope you may find these points and notes as revealing and illuminating as I do in attempting to understand this highly complex and volatile region of the world.

*

"WAR HATH NO VICTORS"

"I have always believed that political victories not accompanied by economic benefit stand on very shaky ground. We need to look forward, to construct a framework that holds a potential for happiness for all peoples in the region. It is time to form a new agenda, a stepping-stone from which to leap, higher and further than ever before.

Politics should pave the way from pure military strategy to an enriched political and economic repertoire. Leaders need to foster a peaceful environment that creates wealth and goodwill. The scale has tipped in the direction of economics, rather than military might. Economic challenge brings new opportunities created by human intellectual advances. The ball is now in our court!

*
Western ideology is characterised by the values (and virtues) of liberalism, economic development and democracy. The world is at a historic crossroads: one path leads to modernization, individual rights, seperation of church and state, democracy, prosperity; the other leads to messianism, extremism, servitude, totalarianism, irrationality, poverty.

Economic and social development are the criteria for successful democratization of the Middle East. It's success will open up limitless opportunities in the region. Democratization will put an end to the danger to regional and world peace. But for the democratic process to take hold, we must first overcome poverty and ignorance - the cradle of fundamentalism.

Low income (and GDP), high unemployment, overpopulation and limited production, diminishing water sources - these all give rise to fanaticism, fundamentalism and false messianism. And the higher the standard of living of the people rises, the lower the level of violence will fall.

* *

Establishing peace and security requires a conceptual revolution, a 'revolution in thinking'.

War does not solve any problems; PEACE IS the solution.

Our ultimate goal is the creation of a regional community of nations, with a common market and elected centralised bodies, modeled on the European Community. The need for this regional framework is based on four fundamental factors:

# Political Stability

'A systemized regional structure will introduce a new framework for the region and that will provide the potential for economic and social growth, extinguishing the fire of religious extremism and cooling the hot winds of revolution.'

# Economics

A higher standard of living is a precondition for mitigating the tensions among Middle Eastern countries. As long as there is a gap between people's expectations within the socio-political system, there will be space for fundamentalism to develop. Only a practical regional approach can fully exploit the potential for tourism and public communications in this rich area of the world, so making the region prosperous for its people.

# National Security

Co-operation and consensus is vital for economic growth. So too, a mutually beneficial regional security framework.

# Democratization

Democracy is not only a process that guarantees personal and civil freedom, but also is a 'watchdog' for peace, working to dispel the factors that underlie fundamentalist agitation. We need a durable peace. Ultimately, only a democratic system will allow for long term prosperity and economic growth, as well as national and personal security. (my thought ???)

Regional Economics: A Regional System

The concept of a regional economy involves the step-by-step establishment of a community of nations, much like the European Community.

The problems of this region of the world cannot be solved by individual nations, or even on a bi-lateral or muti-lateral plane. Regional organisation is the key to peace and security, and will promote democratization, economic development, national growth and individual prosperity. War does not solve any problems; PEACE IS the solution. And peace will only come about as a result of COMPROMISE. By compromising - minimum concessions and maximum justice on both sides - we will live to see the day when nations are free of the sorrow of war, including our own nation as well.

The solution to breaking this vicious cycle is clear: crush the barriers of hatred. Decide like Israel and Egypt did: NO MORE WAR, no more bloodshed. Instead of visions of blood and tears, there will rise visions of happiness and beauty, life and peace. We are at a historic crossroads. Do we choose the path of the tongues of fire, billowing smoke, and rivers of blood, or of blooming deserts, restored wastelands, progress, growth, justice and freedom?"

The words of Shimon Peres* (in 1993!)

Shared by Craig Lock

'just an ordinary person, layman economist and writer trying to do something' small ("rather impulsively and passionately") through the power of words and the amazing power of the 'net'...
as all I can do about it, the situation is write

"We can begin today by taking the first steps across the bridge of mutual co-operation and understanding among Middle East peoples. The journey ahead will be long, but the way is open. We need brave travellers."
- Shimon Peres, former Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs

* Shimon Peres is the ninth President of the State of Israel. Peres served twice as Prime Minister of Israel and once as Acting Prime Minister, and has been a member of 12 cabinets in a political career spanning over 66 years. Peres was elected to the Knesset in November 1959 and, except for a three-month-long hiatus in early 2006, served continuously until 2007, when he became President. He is also a former winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994 * info from Wikipaedia) *
*

Sadly, things have got a lot worse in the Middle East since those "hope filled" days of 1993. The dream was not fulfilled, the vision had not become a reality... because there was not the moral WILL by all parties!

"Let us not negotiate out of fear, but let us not fear to negotiate."
- John F Kennedy

"There can be no peace without reconciliation and there can be no reconciliation. without justice."
- Corazin Aquino (former Prime Minister of the Phillipines)

"If I must choose between righteousness and peace, I choose righteousness."
- Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919, Twenty-Sixth President of the United States of America from 1901-1909, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize

PS: "Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own."
- inspirational words from John F Kennedy on the occasion of his inaugeration as President

"A just peace includes not only civil and political rights - it must encompass economic security and opportunity. For true peace is not just freedom from fear, but freedom from want. The vital ingredients to nurture it are: 'Agreements among nations. Strong institutions. Support for human rights. Investments in development.' And something more, the continued expansion of our moral imagination; an insistence that there is something irreducible that we all share.

Let us reach for the world that ought to be, that spark of the divine, that still stirs within each one of us."
- the words of Barack Obama in accepting his Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway

"Let each one of us build bridges rather than barriers, openness rather than walls. Let us look at distant horizons together in a spirit of acceptance, helpfulness, co-operation and peace. Let our leaders look at the future with a vision - to see things not as they are, but what they could one day become."

"When people's hearts are filled with love, the world is full of hope"
- craig

"Someday, after we have mastered the winds, the waves, the tide and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love. Then, for the second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire."
- Teilhard De Chardin

"Peacemakers who sow in peace, will heap a harvest of righteousness."
- James 2:18

"The peace of the brave is within reach. We are still reaching."
- Bill Clinton (at the signing of the peace agreement between Israel's Prime Minister, Yatzik Rabin and Yasser Arafat, leader of the PLO on the lawn of the White House in 1993)

"Wars are poor chisels for carving out a peaceful tomorrow."
- Martin Luther King, Jnr

"Peace is the greatest weapon for development, that any people can have."
- Nelson Mandela

"Let us reach for the world that ought to be, that spark of the divine, that still stirs within each one of us."
- the words of Barack Obama in accepting his Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway

About the submitter:
In his various writings, Craig strives to break down social, cultural, religious and economic barriers through trying to plant 'tiny seeds of hope' through sharing ideas and principles. He believes that whilst we should celebrate our differences, what we share is way more important than what divides us.

Craig's new work 'A New Dawn' is set in the Middle East: To attempt to find 'common ground'/principles between different religions and cultures and to try to make some difference in building bridges in an ever more dangerous, tubulent and uncertain world. "A passionate story of inspiration: hope, faith, peace and especially love."

Craig is currently writing true stories of life in the Middle East. And as he writes, is posting extracts on his new blog
at http://en.search.wordpress.com/?q=%22craig+lock%22
and craiglock.wordpress.com

The various books that Craig "felt inspired to write" are available at www.lulu.com/craiglock and http://www.creativekiwis.com/books.html