The role of the GCC in North Africa in light of the 'Arab Spring'

This chapter deals with the rising involvement of the GCC countries in the Maghreb since the beginning of the new century, the approach of their leaderships to the events of 2011 and to the political transitions in the region. Within the emerging lively dynamism of three GCC actors in particular – namely Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – Islam and business come to the fore in this work. These two main factors are considered within a historical perspective and against the background of the evolving structural reality both in North Africa, in light of the so-called 'Arab Spring', and in the GCC region. Specific political-cultural-religious-social-economic traits are analysed, with a focus on the challenges that the Arab world is facing at this delicate stage of difficult reorganization, marked by serious uncertainties and risks. The contribution is committed in particular to shed new light on the dynamics affecting the existing North Africa's interdependencies with the Gulf.