Conflicts in the Middle East and the Performance and Future of D8 Group

Abstract

About 20 years ago Necmettin Erbakan, the former Turkish Prime Minister, introduced his idea about theAbout 20 years ago Necmettin Erbakan, the former Turkish Prime Minister, introduced his idea about the establishing of an Islamic group of developing countries, with a large Muslim population and a high economic potential, to cooperate in economic and trade activities. . Using the shift share technique in a trade model, the current paper discusses possible opportunities as well as easing the relations among the D8 group. The results show that that there are serious problems to expand trade and economic relations among the D8 members and then the shaping of a fit community in reality. While the group was formed to make an economic development alliance, fostering economic and commercial cooperation among the member nations, figures show that during last decades the members of this group have had very low bilateral and multilateral relations in economic and commercial affairs. This problem has been mainly rooted in economic and political divergences among the members. Indeed, the political problems between important members of the D8, including; Egypt, Iran and Turkey, have played an essential role in this result. Beyond doubt, the future of the D8 group directly depends on the strategic plans and action policies of these core countries with triangle cooperation purposes. However, unfortunately due to the old rooted political divergences in the Middle East together with the recent conflicts and crises in this area the future of D8 group is extremely ambiguous. .