Financialisation and human rights in the Middle East and North Africa

Over the last generation, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund have facilitated the financialisation of international development, driving the restructuring of MENA economies to prioritise international financial interests over their own populations, with far reaching impacts on human rights like the right to water, housing and the right to development itself.

Financialisation has had profound impacts on the region, as it affects directly or indirectly many aspects of the current global polycrisis, from the climate emergency and the current economic crisis, to the growing poverty and inequality that impact the daily lives of people in the region. Recognising the importance of financialisation and hoping to contribute to a wider understanding among civil society and social movements, this briefing explains what financialisation is and why it matters for civil society organisations in the MENA region working on issues related to economic justice and human rights. 

This briefing is part of the BWP’s Financialisation and Human Rights project, and is based on extracts from the report Financialisation, human rights and the Bretton Woods institutions: An introduction for civil society organisations, which will be released later this year.

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Source : brettonwoodsproject.org