ABSTRACT
The economic relationship between the countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and post-Soviet Russia has lagged, seemingly without reason, since the fall of communism. Much of this is due to the collapse of traditional ties built during the Cold War, while Russia’s abandonment of global competition with the United States in the 1990s forced an economic (as well as political) withdrawal. Since the rise of Vladimir Putin, however, and Russia’s own economic recovery, economic ties have been used as a political cudgel, as a way to expand Russia’s influence and plant the flag where necessary. Unfortunately, the protectionist and anti-market policies prevalent in both MENA and Russia mean that economics will only ever be an adjunct to politics, leaving the economic relationship underfed and neglected.
