he Middle East has existed
for a long time; in fact, any economic planning done in that region was generally accomplished by external for most of the Middle powers. However, when this investment was combined with political independence East nations, the nations were able to take over their own economic planning without the control of western industrial powers.
Economic planning in the Middle East today is concerned with identifying major problems hindering growth and develop-ment, and formulating solutions to those problems. Generally stated, the developing countries of the Middle East would like to maintain their economic growth and the less-developed countries would like to improve their standard of living. To achieve these goals, the emphases in planning are on agricultural improvements, communication and transportation, industrial development, education, social welfare and income distribution, and increasing the influence of the Middle East worldwide (Beaumont 235).
There are several important problems specific to the Middle East that require the attentions of economic planners. The first of these is the lack of natural resources, especial water (because of the Sahara-Arabian desert that dominates Middle Eastern geography, only 5 to 6% of the land there is cultivated) (Shiloh xxxiii). Lack of water is said to be "just as significant as the abundance of oil" in this region, politically as well as economically ("The Politics of Water" 56). Even among the nations that do have enough water (Syria, Iraq, and Turkey, for example, all have access to the Tigris-Euphrates r
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