Introduction. The Methodological Framework of Arab Political Demography -- THE EMERGENCE OF 2POOR3 AND 2RICH3 ARAB STATES -- 2. The Concept of Political Demography -- 1. Sources for Demographic Research of the Arab States -- 1. An Overview of Demographic Records in the Arab Countries -- 2. Case Studies in the History of Demographic Records -- 3. The "Flickering" Nature of the Saudi Arabian Demographic Data -- 4. The "Missing" Ethno-Religious Composition of the Arab Countries -- 5. The Lacuna of Accurate Employment Data -- 6. The Research Implications of the "Informal (Hidden) Economy" -- 7. Summary and Conclusions -- BEYOND EXPECTATIONS: ARAB POPULATION GROWTH IN RETROSPECT; 1. Introduction: Worldwide Population Growth in Retrospect -- 2. The Demographic Transition Theory and the Arab Countries -- 3. An Historical Examination of Population Growth in the Arab States -- 4. The Revolution of Mortality Rates in the Arab Countries -- 5. Summary and Conclusions -- 2JOBS FOR THE BOYS (AND GIRLS)3: THE EMERGENCE OF THE EMPLOYMENT DILEMMA; 1. The Consequences of the Young Age Structure -- 2. Arab Employment Developments in Retrospect -- 3. The Increase in Disguised Unemployment and Underemployment -- 4. Unemployment as a Differentiating Factor between the Arab Countries and the Developed Countries -- 5. Summary and Conclusions -- THE 2NEW ARAB DEMOGRAPHIC ORDER3: THE INTRA-ARAB LABOR MIGRATION; 1. The Theoretical Framework of International Labor Migration -- 2. The GCC Development Strategy following the "Oil Boom" -- 3. The Subsequent Rapid Growth of Foreign Labor -- 4. The Unique Gulf Labor Migration Pattern -- 5. The GCC Labor and Immigration Policies: "From Encouragement through Limitation to Surrender" -- 6. Evaluating the GCC Immigration and Employment Policies -- 7. The Labor Emigration Policy of the Arab Labor-Exporting Countries -- 8. Was it Worth It? The Cost/Benefit Balance of the Intra-Arab Labor Migration for the Labor-Exporting Countries -- 9. Summary and Conclusions -- BETWEEN PRO-NATALISM AND ANTI-NATALISM IN THE ARAB COUNTRIES; 1. The Attitude toward Population Growth in Historical Perspective -- 2. The Various "Population Policy" Definitions -- 3. An Historical Examination of the Western Natalist Perception until the Mid-Twentieth Century -- 4. An Historical Examination of the Natalist Policies of the Arab Countries -- 5. Evaluation of the Family Planning Programs in the Arab Countries -- 6. "Direct" or "Indirect"? The Contribution of Family Planning Programs to Fertility Decline -- 7. Why Tunisia and Lebanon? -- 6. Summary and Conclusions -- SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS: THE EMERGENCE OF THE 2ARAB DEMOGRAPHIC CATCH 223 -- Appendix 1. Key Economic Indicators for some Arab Countries, 2005.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [284]-316) and index.