Potere ed economia nel Mediterraneo : le relazioni tra Comunità europee e Paesi arabi (1970-1992)

The article focuses on the changes of the European Communities' approach to the south and east Mediterranean during the 1970s and 1980s through the analysis of its policies, the patterns of development of Arab countries and the related economic flows. The combination of EC archival sources, economic literature and databases proves that the EC's «otherness» towards its Arab neighbourhood (namely favouring negotiations and aid to development) remained complementary and subordinate to an overall liberal approach, whose strategic objective was securing sound market positions, and which changed much across time pending the varying power relationship in the Mediterranean basin. [Publisher's text].