ABSTRACT
The papers in this part were not planned to relate to any special theme in the economic history of the Middle East. In fact the notion of the Middle East as a homogeneous region whose economic history could profitably be studied was seriously challenged in the course of the conference. All the same, the participants in the conference were keenly aware of the relative economic decline and stagnation of the Middle Eastern countries in modern times, and their attempts at explaining the continued backwardness of these countries often betrayed their deep concern over the present economic conditions prevailing in the area.
