Question: In addition to economic benefits, regional economic integration produces political benefits. By fostering close economic ties between nations, regional economic integration helps foster peace, as illustrated by 50 years of civility in Europe. The Middle East, as is well known, is a region that is rife with political tensions. Between the persistence of the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the political instability in Iraq, the question of nuclear weapons in Iran, and the seemingly never-ending issues concerning Israel, the Middle East is a powder keg.
How might regional economic integration help resolve some of these contentious political issues? What types of industry might enable some level of integration within the Middle East?