Abstract
The Arab Spring protests that engulfed the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) in 2011-12 significantly influenced foreign policy, economy, demography, and security of regional countries. The major beneficiaries of the rise in arms trade were the top international arms exporters, including the United States, Russia, United Kingdom, France, Germany, China, and the upcoming regional arm exporter, Turkey. This chapter discusses the geopolitics of global arms trade and analyses the factors that drive the arms industry. It situates the regional trends in MENA with the political economy of international arms transfers while analysing the factors that drive the regional countries to spend a considerable budget for the military. The chapter examines the impact of the Arab Spring on arms trade in the region. Finally, it finds a parallel in the upward trajectory of the threat perception among regional countries and arms trade between 2011 and 2020.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
