Research Proposal: “Why is Yemen not part of the GCC Countries?”
Introduction
Yemen is a country that has faced numerous problems in the past and present. The country’s several challenges are related and have the ability to overwhelm the country’s limited ability. Yemen goes through a series of crises: in regards to leadership transition, it is faced with economic, demographic and domestic security issues. Its oil reserves are facing depletion in the near years in addition to its resources. With it lacking any strategies to handle the issue, the government faces a huge challenge in handling a country with such adverse population prospects. The country’s geographic distribution and rugged landscape make it hard for the government to reach its people – considering its poor population, the pressure on the resources and goods and services distribution is about to become a nightmare. The same goes for water which is uncontrolled, varied decentralization strategies meaning that it could easily run out of water. While in terms of security, the country is faced with a number of security issues that has grown to a civil war to the north and secession efforts to the south. In a matter of time, though with certain benefits, Yemen has a number of issues would become a crisis that may affect other areas of the country (Saade, et al, 2007). The paper will focus on the reason as to why Yemen is not part of the GCC.
Statement of the Problem
The reason as to why Yemen is not part of the GCC is because of its problems that have adverse consequences to the region. Looking at the resources, Yemen is bound to place pressure on its neighbours. The country is fast getting depleted of its resources of water and oil. If the country goes on artificial support this would go on to affect the Gulf Cooperation Council states due to the rise in energy needs (Abdu, 2009). Additionally, the country is prone to security threats looking at the terrorist threats and civil wars it is facing. This is bound to be a burden to other GCC members who operate together.
With oil contributing 75 percent of the Saudi Arabia’s economy, it will be forced to help Yemen’s budget annually as it is doing. Considering other available options, the states in the GCC would have to play a role to release Yemen from its problems, hence making it a regional problem (Lauren, 2011). The neighbours would not want to have a failed country close to it where terrorists would have a good ground to develop. This since it is seen as a root for insecurity and instability. While the population is growing at a rate of 3.4% with most of them being youths (Abdu, 2009). This would explode in the future and with the rate of falling the country is facing, the country is bound to have its citizens seeking refuge in neighboring nations.
Statement of Purpose
With the exclusion of Yemen from the GCC, there are a number of issues that play a factor in this. This could be attributed to insecurity, depletion of resources and a high demographic growth rate. This issues among others are seen to bring a lot of unrest in the neighbouring countries. This could be in terms of security, employment, resources and financial pressures. This would end up pulling down the other countries in the GCC.
Statement of the Questions
- Does what happen in Yemen precipitate GCC exclusion?
- Could Yemen’s exclusion from the GCC be of help to the GCC countries?
- With Yemen’s problems confined to its border, should a regional approach be applied?
References
Abdu, S. (2009). Yemen and the GCC: the long road to integration. Al-Masar / Al-Masār, 10(2), p3-14.
Lauren, G. (2011). GCC takes steps to solve Yemen crisis. Jane’s Defence Weekly 48(20), p14- 14.
Saade, C., Selim, E. and Ivan, T. (2007). What are the Potential Economic Benefits of Enlarging the Gulf Cooperation Council? International Economic Journal, 21(4), p521-548.
