Chapter 9: Russia’s Agri-Food Trade with the Middle East and North Africa

AbstractThe Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is the top destination for Russian food exports, grains in particular. Focusing on Turkey, Egypt, Iran, and Saudi Arabia, this chapter shows that Russia’s food trade with MENA countries is strongly affected by bilateral political relations. Russia banned most food imports from Turkey over a political conflict in 2016. In the same year, improved intergovernmental cooperation with Saudi Arabia resulted in a diversification of Russia’s food exports to the Gulf country, and in 2019, Iran’s accession to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) led to increasing food trade with Russia. Food imports in MENA countries are usually managed by powerful state trading enterprises (STEs), which recurrently disapprove food products originating from Russia based on non-adherence to food quality standards. Our analysis shows that Russia is successfully working to open additional destination markets, while simultaneously impeding imports of food products that it aims to produce domestically.

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Variable Proportions of Phylogenetic Clustering and Low Levels of Antiviral Drug Resistance among the Major HBV Sub-Genotypes in the Middle East and North Africa

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens10101333 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (10) ◽

pp. 1333

Author(s):

Rabaa Y. Athamneh ◽

Ayşe Arıkan ◽

Murat Sayan ◽

Azmi Mahafzah ◽

Malik Sallam

Keyword(s):

Drug Resistance ◽

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Saudi Arabia ◽

Middle East ◽

North Africa ◽

Antiviral Drug ◽

Ratio Test ◽

Phylogenetic Clustering ◽

Mena Countries ◽

Antiviral Drug Resistance

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major public health threat in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Phylogenetic analysis of HBV can be helpful to study the putative transmission links and patterns of inter-country spread of the virus. The objectives of the current study were to analyze the HBV genotype/sub-genotype (SGT) distribution, reverse transcriptase (RT), and surface (S) gene mutations and to investigate the domestic transmission of HBV in the MENA. All HBV molecular sequences collected in the MENA were retrieved from GenBank as of 30 April 2021. Determination of genotypes/SGT, RT, and S mutations were based on the Geno2pheno (hbv) 2.0 online tool. For the most prevalent HBV SGTs, maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis was conducted to identify the putative phylogenetic clusters, with approximate Shimodaira–Hasegawa-like likelihood ratio test values ≥ 0.90, and genetic distance cut-off values ≤ 0.025 substitutions/site as implemented in Cluster Picker. The total number of HBV sequences used for genotype/SGT determination was 4352 that represented a total of 20 MENA countries, with a majority from Iran (n = 2103, 48.3%), Saudi Arabia (n = 503, 11.6%), Tunisia (n = 395, 9.1%), and Turkey (n = 267, 6.1%). Genotype D dominated infections in the MENA (86.6%), followed by genotype A (4.1%), with SGT D1 as the most common in 14 MENA countries and SGT D7 dominance in the Maghreb. The highest prevalence of antiviral drug resistance was observed against lamivudine (4.5%) and telbivudine (4.3%). The proportion of domestic phylogenetic clustering was the highest for SGT D7 (61.9%), followed by SGT D2 (28.2%) and genotype E (25.7%). The largest fraction of domestic clusters with evidence of inter-country spread within the MENA was seen in SGT D7 (81.3%). Small networks (containing 3-14 sequences) dominated among domestic phylogenetic clusters. Specific patterns of HBV genetic diversity were seen in the MENA with SGT D1 dominance in the Levant, Iran, and Turkey; SGT D7 dominance in the Maghreb; and extensive diversity in Saudi Arabia and Egypt. A low prevalence of lamivudine, telbivudine, and entecavir drug resistance was observed in the region, with almost an absence of resistance to tenofovir and adefovir. Variable proportions of phylogenetic clustering indicated prominent domestic transmission of SGT D7 (particularly in the Maghreb) and relatively high levels of virus mobility in SGT D1.

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Party systems and ideological cleavages in the Middle East and North Africa

Party Politics ◽

10.1177/1354068819894299 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 135406881989429

Author(s):

Abdullah Aydogan

Keyword(s):

Middle East ◽

North Africa ◽

Political Party ◽

Party Systems ◽

Party Competition ◽

Right Wing ◽

Left Wing ◽

Mena Region ◽

Quantitative Evidence ◽

Mena Countries

Previous studies have contrasted the political party systems in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) with those in more democratic countries, raising three important points: (1) the religious–secular dimension, rather than the economic or social left–right, explains the underlying political party competition; (2) left-wing politics is relatively weaker than right-wing politics; and (3) parties that are traditionally known as rightist take left-leaning positions on numerous issue dimensions, and vice versa. Even though this particular literature on party politics in the MENA has greatly improved our understanding of political dynamics in the region, these studies have either lacked quantitative evidence to support these points or their evidence was limited to single-country cases. This study aims to address this issue by analyzing original expert survey data of the ideological positions of political parties in the MENA region. Results show that in addition to the religious–secular dimension, the economic left–right divide and the pace of political reforms are highly important dimensions. The study also provides numerous examples showing that the policy stances of leftist and rightist parties are significantly reversed when MENA countries are compared with more developed democracies.

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Food security in selected Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries: an inter-country comparison

Food Security ◽

10.1007/s12571-019-00935-w ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 531-540 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Nasrin Omidvar ◽

Davod Ahmadi ◽

Kate Sinclair ◽

Hugo Melgar-Quiñonez

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Middle East ◽

North Africa ◽

Mena Countries ◽

Country Comparison

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China and the Revolutions in the Middle East and North Africa

Middle East Law and Governance ◽

10.1163/187633711x591549 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 3 (1-2) ◽

pp. 192-203 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Randall Peerenboom

Keyword(s):

Social Justice ◽

Middle East ◽

North Africa ◽

Authoritarian Regimes ◽

Northern Africa ◽

Mena Countries ◽

Turn On ◽

Potential Sources ◽

The Government

The 2011 revolutions in the Middle East and Northern Africa (MENA) led to considerable hope for some people that China would experience a similar political uprising, as well as considerable anxiety for the ruling regime. The government’s immediate response was to downplay the risk of a similar event occurring in China by distinguishing between China and MENA, while at the same time cracking down on activists and other potential sources of instability—including attempts to organize popular revolutionary protests in China. Although the government has so far managed to avoid a similar uprising, neither response has been entirely successful. Despite a number of significant diff erences between China and MENA countries, there are enough commonalities to justify concerns about political instability. Moreover, relying on repression alone is not a long-term solution to the justified demands of Chinese citizens for political reforms and social justice. Whether China will ultimately be able to avoid the fate of authoritarian regimes in MENA countries will turn on its ability to overcome a series of structural challenges while preventing sudden and unpredictable events, like those that gave rise to the Arab revolutions, from spinning out of control.

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Diet, Genetics, and Disease: A Focus on the Middle East and North Africa Region

Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism ◽

10.1155/2012/109037 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-19 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

Akl C. Fahed ◽

Abdul-Karim M. El-Hage-Sleiman ◽

Theresa I. Farhat ◽

Georges M. Nemer

Keyword(s):

Middle East ◽

Chronic Diseases ◽

North Africa ◽

Genetic Factors ◽

Future Research ◽

Micronutrient Deficiencies ◽

Mena Region ◽

Mena Countries ◽

Nutritional Genomics

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region suffers a drastic change from a traditional diet to an industrialized diet. This has led to an unparalleled increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases. This review discusses the role of nutritional genomics, or the dietary signature, in these dietary and disease changes in the MENA. The diet-genetics-disease relation is discussed in detail. Selected disease categories in the MENA are discussed starting with a review of their epidemiology in the different MENA countries, followed by an examination of the known genetic factors that have been reported in the disease discussed, whether inside or outside the MENA. Several diet-genetics-disease relationships in the MENA may be contributing to the increased prevalence of civilization disorders of metabolism and micronutrient deficiencies. Future research in the field of nutritional genomics in the MENA is needed to better define these relationships.

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Environmental Performance and Economic Growth in Middle East and North Africa Countries

Journal of Health and Pollution ◽

10.5696/2156-9614-9.24.191208 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (24) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Hichem Dkhili

Keyword(s):

Economic Growth ◽

Middle East ◽

North Africa ◽

Environmental Performance ◽

Middle Eastern ◽

Smooth Transition ◽

African Countries ◽

Mena Region ◽

Mena Countries ◽

The Impact

Background. Studies on environmental performance/quality and economic growth show inconclusive results. Objective. The aim of the present study is to assess the non-linear relationship between environmental performance and economic growth in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region from 2002–2018. Methods. A sample of fourteen (14) MENA countries was used in the present analysis. However, due to important differences between countries in this region, the whole sample was divided into two sub-samples; nine Middle Eastern countries (MEAS) and five North African countries (NAF). We performed the panel smooth transition regression model as an econometric approach. Discussion. Empirical results indicate a threshold effect in the environmental performance and economic growth relationship. The threshold value differs from one group of countries to another. More specifically, we found that the impact of environmental performance and economic growth is positive and significant only if a certain threshold level has been attained. Until then, the effect remains negative. Conclusions. The findings of the present study are of great importance for policymakers since they determine the optimal level of environmental performance required to act positively on the level of economic growth. MENA countries should seek to improve their environmental performance index in order to grow output. Competing Interests. The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Empowering Women, Developing Society: Female Education in the Middle East and North Africa

Al-Raida Journal ◽

10.32380/alrj.v0i0.221 ◽

1970 ◽

pp. 4-11

Author(s):

Faraneh Roudi-Fahimi ◽

Valentine M. Moghadam

Keyword(s):

Middle East ◽

Secondary School ◽

North Africa ◽

Well Being ◽

Access To Education ◽

School Enrolment ◽

Mena Countries ◽

The Past ◽

Secondary School Enrolment ◽

And Gender

Education is a key part of strategies to improve individuals' well-being and societies' economic and social development. In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) (countries and territories included in the Middle East and North Africa as defined here are listed in Table 1), access to education has improved dramatically over the past few decades, and there have been a number of encouraging trends in girls' and women's education (see Figure 1). Primary school enrolment is high or universal in most MENA countries, and gender gaps in secondary school enrolment have already disappeared in several countries. Women in MENA countries are also more likely to enrol in universities than they were in the past.

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Social Trust in the Middle East and North Africa: The Context-Dependent Impact of Citizens’ Socio-Economic and Religious Characteristics

European Sociological Review ◽

10.1093/esr/jcz038 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 35 (6) ◽

pp. 894-911 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Niels Spierings

Keyword(s):

Middle East ◽

North Africa ◽

Social Trust ◽

Context Dependency ◽

Comparative Approach ◽

Mena Region ◽

Mena Countries ◽

Systematic Assessment ◽

Context Sensitive ◽

The Impact

Abstract Our knowledge of social trust's drivers in the MENA region is limited and there are good reasons to expect that theories based on Western countries cannot be copied to the MENA one-to-one. Arguing for a broader and at the same time context-sensitive comparative approach, I translate the ‘societal winners’, social capital, and religious beliefs mechanisms explaining trust to the MENA context. Moreover, I acknowledge intraregional diversity and test how the impact of these factors also differs among MENA countries. Empirically, I synchronize 47 surveys from 15 MENA countries, which provides the broadest and most systematic assessment of trust in the MENA to date. The results show that the societal-winner mechanism does not hold: employed, higher education and wealthier citizens are not more trusting. However, higher-educated citizens distrust other citizens more, particularly in the strongest autocracies. Religiosity seems pivotal too. Among others, service-attending citizens are more trusting, mainly where regimes regulate religious affairs. Overall, this study provides insight into what shapes generalized social trust in the Middle East and North Africa and it underscores that at a comparative level we need to consider inter-regional and intra-regional forms of context-dependency were we to formulate a broadly applicable theoretical framework of trust's drivers.

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Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori Infection and Diagnostic Methods in the Middle East and North Africa Region

Medicina ◽

10.3390/medicina56040169 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 56 (4) ◽

pp. 169

Author(s):

Faten A. S. Alsulaimany ◽

Zuhier A. Awan ◽

Ahmad M. Almohamady ◽

Mohammed I. Koumu ◽

Bassam E. Yaghmoor ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Helicobacter Pylori ◽

Middle East ◽

North Africa ◽

Diagnostic Methods ◽

Screening Methods ◽

Mena Region ◽

Screening Guidelines ◽

Mena Countries ◽

H Pylori

Background and Objectives: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is common worldwide and may cause gastroduodenal complications, including cancer. In this review, we examine the prevalence and distribution of various H. pylori genotypes and the risk factors for H. pylori infection, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. We also introduce different global screening methods and guidelines and compare them to those currently in use in the MENA region. Materials and Methods: We searched the Google Scholar, PubMed, and Saudi Digital Library (SDL) databases for clinical trials and articles published in English. The data collection was mainly focused on MENA countries. However, for H. pylori genotypes and diagnostic methods, studies conducted in other regions or reporting global practices and guidelines were also included to allow a comparison with those in the MENA region. We also included studies examining the prevalence of H. pylori infection in healthy participants. Results: H. pylori infection is highly prevalent in the MENA region, mainly because of the accumulation of risk factors in developing countries. Herein, we highlight a lack of good quality studies on the prevalence of various H. pylori genotypes in the MENA region as well as a need for standard diagnostic methods and screening guidelines. Due to the complications associated with H. pylori, we recommend routine screening for H. pylori infection in all gastroenterology patients admitted in the MENA region. Conclusion: Concerted effort will first be required to validate affordable, non-invasive, and accurate diagnostic methods and to establish local guidelines with adapted cut-off values for the interpretation of the test results.

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The Water-Energy Nexus in the Middle East and North Africa under Climate Change

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-5687 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Manfred A. Lange

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Middle East ◽

North Africa ◽

Mediterranean Basin ◽

Mena Region ◽

Mena Countries ◽

Water Energy Nexus ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

The Mediterranean Basin ◽

Impacts Of Climate Change

The region of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA region) encompasses countries of the eastern Mediterranean, the Middle East, and North Africa, from Morocco in the West to the Islamic Republic of Iran in the East and from the Syrian Arab Republic in the North to the Republic of Yemen in the South. It is home to some 500 million inhabitants and is characterized by widely varied political and economic settings and a rich cultural heritage. Stark environmental gradients, as well as significant differences in the provision of ecosystem services, both East to West and South to North, are typical for the MENA Region.Climate changes in the Mediterranean Basin, in general, and in the MENA countries, in particular, currently exceed global mean values significantly. Numerical model results indicate that this trend will continue in the near future and imply that the number of extreme summer temperatures and heatwaves may increase significantly over the coming decades. At the same time, a decrease in precipitation and a significantly longer dry season for most MENA countries than at present are anticipated. This leads to a significantly increased demand for water and energy. In addition, other factors further exacerbate these demands in the MENA, including the general economic development, extreme population growth and increasing urbanization, changes in lifestyle, shifting consumption patterns, inefficiencies in the use of resources that result from technical and managerial inadequacies and energy and water subsidies in several countries of the region to name but a few.The impacts of climate change will be particularly severe in urban settings and large cities of the Mediterranean Basin and the MENA region. Cities will see an enhanced heat accumulation compared to the surrounding rural land due to heat-build-up in buildings, transportation infrastructure, and enhanced human activities. Reduced ventilation within cities exacerbates the warming, particularly during summer heatwaves. Consequently, additional, energy-intensive space cooling will be needed in order to maintain acceptable indoor conditions. With regard to water scarcity, the aforementioned decreases in precipitation will reduce available drinking water for city inhabitants and green spaces. This requires the provision of unconventional water sources, e.g., through desalination, which requires significant quantities of energy. Overall, climate change will exacerbate resource demand for water and energy, in general, and in urban settings, in particular.However, the provision of water and energy are interrelated. In order to maintain water and energy security in the MENA region, these issues need therefore be considered holistically in the framework of the Water-Energy-Nexus (WEN).The present paper aims to elucidate some of the interrelationships between water and energy resources and their provision and will briefly outline a few of the possible mitigation/adaptation options/strategies to reduce adverse impacts of climate change on the MENA region and its inhabitants.

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