Seminars & Events
APL (Ajiken Power Lunch)
Socio-economic and socio-political trends in the GCC
APL
(Ajiken
Power
Lunch)
is
a
lunchtime
workshop
open
to
public,
including
IDE
staffs,
visiting
research
fellows,
IDEAS
students,
outside
researchers
and
graduate
students.
This
workshop
provides
a
platform
for
presentation
of
any
work
in
progress
where
we
can
discuss
in
either
English
or
Japanese.
Those
who
would
attend
a
seminar
are
asked
to
announce
yourself
to
receptionists
on
your
arrival
at
the
IDE
and
to
obtain
APL
Organizers'
signature
on
your
admission
card
after
the
seminar.
Date&time:
September 15, 2016. (Thursday) 11:00-12:30
Venue:
Theme:
Socio-economic and socio-political trends in the GCC
Abstract
I
argue
that
GCC
countries
are
turning
the
challenge
of
low-oil
price
environment
into
an
opportunity
for
doing
away
with
public
finance
burden
like
reducing
subsidies
but
without
undertaking
political
reforms.
Adopted
measures
include
revisiting
subsidies
for
food
and
subsidies
as
well
as
utility.
Still,
new
fees
are
being
introduced
like
airport
use
fee
in
Dubai
and
Qatar.
Other
moves
entail
VAT
from
2018.
Reengineering
subsidies
and
raising
fees
pose
a
particular
challenge
to
the
expatriate
community,
in
turn
compromising
the
majority
of
work
force
in
all
GCC
countries.
There
are
signs
of
some
foreign
workers
leaving
due
to
payment
problems
though
not
necessarily
reflecting
living
costs.
Still,
some
countries
like
Saudi
Arabia
and
Bahrain
are
pressing
for
economic
reforms.
Saudi
Vision
2030
calls
for
greater
role
for
the
private
sector.
Likewise,
the
plan
calls
for
tripling
the
number
of
people
performing
Umrah,
which
takes
place
anytime
except
during
the
annual
Haj;
currently,
some
8
million
Muslims
perform
Umrah
annually.
With
regards
to
Bahrain,
a
newly-founded
economic
drive
designed
to
liberalise
the
economy.
A
fresh
plan
calls
for
allowing
non-locals
to
own
entire
stakes
in
numerous
business
activities,
including
recreation
and
leisure,
health
and
social
work,
information
and
communication,
manufacturing,
mining
and
quarrying,
real
estate
and
water
supply.
Wrongly,
the
notion
of
(no
taxation
without
representation),
which
initiated
in
the
US
is
not
necessarily
true
in
the
case
of
GCC.
In
reality,
economic
reforms
are
being
forced
without
consultation.
In
fact,
pro-government,
non-state
actors,
argue
that
where
possible,
locals
should
forgo
certain
civil
liberties
in
return
for
security.
Arguments
used
are
those
of
security
risks
in
the
region
including
ISIS
and
unfriendly
ties
with
Iran.
On
regional
politics,
Saudi
Arabia
has
difficulty
accepting
normalized
ties
between
the
West
and
Iran.
Saudi
Arabia
likes
to
see
victory
of
conservatives
in
the
2017
presidential
elections,
with
all
their
adverse
views
of
the
West.
Tensions
of
Haj
had
added
to
animosity
between
Teheran
and
Riyadh.
Speaker:
Dr. Jasim Husain (Former member of the Bahraini Parliament, indepen reseacher)
Chair:
Languages:
English
IMAI Kohei E-mail:kohei_imai

Ogawa Michihiro E-mail:Michihiro_Ogawa

TSUBURA Machiko E-mail:Machiko_Tsubura

ASUYAMA Yoko E-mail:yoko_asuyama
