ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses how a few Arab countries conducted successful policies of modernisation in order to promote inter alia the arrival of modern capitalism, or the market economy. It is strongly emphasised that Islam did not hinder these efforts at catching-up in relation to the Occidental countries. The Arab state is typically described as authoritarian, a strong state in a weak society, following Migdal’s concepts (1988). The modernisation project initiated in Arabia in the 19th century was no doubt a state led effort. Weber said that no country could resist the introduction of capitalism when it is ready for the battle. The Islamic world was prepared for the arrival of capitalism towards the middle of the nineteenth century, especially the Arab countries.
