The Arab spring challenges that must be met - FT.com

Nearly one year into the Arab spring, the Middle East and north Africa region remains in a state of flux and is bracing itself for a transition lasting several years.

Although the long-term benefits of this historical transformation are indisputable, economic and social pressures are building on the region’s oil-importing countries, and the worsening international economy will only exacerbate these strains.

These countries are expected to grow at a mere 1.4 per cent this year and only a modest recovery seems on the cards for 2012. This economic slowdown is pushing up already high unemployment rates at the same time that social demands are rising.

* username: rupertbu