Discusses the social, economic, and cultural dynamics which could lead to alternative paths of development and upon various images of Arab futures.

Introduction --Part I -- Global models and the Arab future -- Concept of investigating the future and criteria for selection of global models -- Different methodologies used to address futures issues -- On exploring the Arab future -- The movement of global modelling and futures studies -- Selection of most relevant global models -- The Arab region as mirrored in global models -- The Club of Rome model: The limits to growth -- The Mesarovic-Pestel model -- The Fundacion Bariloche model -- Leontief's model of the world economy -- The SARUM model -- The interfutures study -- The Arab region in global models -- Selected images of the Arab region in forecasts of global models -- Images of the Arab future emerging from computations of global models -- Part II -- Images of the Arab future as reflected in Arab strategy documents -- Food security strategy in the Arab countries -- The nature of the problem -- Elements of proposed strategy -- A brief appraisal -- Strategy of industrial development to meet basic needs -- Elements of strategy to secure basic needs in clothing -- Elements of industrial strategy required to secure basic needs in housing -- A brief appraisal -- Proceedings of the First Arab Energy Conference -- Evaluating the energy situation in the Arab countries -- Energy alternatives and options at both the global and Arab levels -- Optimal policies for oil production and pricing -- A brief appraisal of the proceedings of the conference -- Strategy to develop Arab education -- Aims and basic premises of the strategy -- Different approaches to the proposed strategy -- Different models for the application of the strategy -- Alternative patterns of development and lifestyles -- The issues -- Recommendations -- A brief appraisal -- Working paper of the three-man committee selected by the committee of experts on a strategy for joint Arab economic action -- Premises and incentives of joint Arab economic action -- Main axes of joint Arab economic action -- A brief critique -- Towards developing joint Arab economic action (strategy documents presented to the 11th Arab Summit Conference held in Amman in November 1980) -- Basic premises -- Programmes and activities -- Proposed mechanisms -- A brief appraisal -- An overall appraisal -- Part III -- Towards Arab studies of the Arab future -- The Arabs at the crossroads -- Arab resources: actuality and potential -- Different challenges facing the Arab world -- Diversity of development paths -- Downfall of the development models fetish -- Alternative approaches to some issues of development technology -- Eco-development -- The need for Arab futures studies -- Shortcomings in available studies -- Availability of Arab skills -- Methodology of futures studies -- A step along the path -- Selected bibliography -- Index.