The international price of oil is now in negative territory and having an immensurate impact on the world, but especially in the Middle East where oil is the foundation of many sovereign states. The duel economic blows of the COVID-19 crisis and the oil price wars are forcibly dragging Gulf states backward, particularly affecting the burgeoning middle classes. If these issues are not dealt with adequately, questions could be raised about the capability of several authoritarian states in the region and force further unrest in an already tense area of the world. Joining us from the United States to discuss these issues is Dr. Imad Harb, SIA’s Senior Non-Resident Fellow Greater Middle East & Director of Research and Analysis at the Arab Center Washington DC.

Imad makes reference to this article about the Arab social upheaval.