On August 9, Prince El Hassan bin Talal patronised the launching of the “Arab Economic Charter” in Amman. His Royal Highness also launched the “Arab Social Charter” in December 2012. Both events came in the wake of the Arab Spring. What are these charters, and why are they launched? The Arab Thought Forum (ATF) was established in 1981, right after the first Arab Summit to be held in Amman, in 1980. Two major documents were launched at the summit: the Arab Economic Strategy and A Development Decade 1981-1990. Both were solid documents presented by Arab economic and social development thinkers. Optimistic and impressed, a group of Arab thinkers and government executives approached the Prince to establish ATF. The main purpose was to bridge the gap between thinkers and decision makers in order to rationalise inter-Arab cooperation. Thirty-five years (or so) after its inception, ATF is still alive; it has covered a lot of ground, produced impressive studies and books, hosted many dialogues and survived many a crisis, notably the differences of opinion over the occupation of Kuwait by Iraq in 1990 and the way it was dealt with by the forum. Yet, ATF has managed to recreate itself and whatever impediments it encountered only made it stronger. Despite operating on a shoestring budget, it has maintained its integrity and garnered support from women, young researchers and the disparate optimists who still believe that Arabs will have their day under the sun. It is under the current dismal situation of the Arab world and the chaos in the international economic arena that ATF revives talk about a project to grow the national economy of each Arab country and rekindle Arab economic cooperation. The recent events of the Arab Spring have taught us valuable lessons. One is that leaders should focus on improving the livelihood of their people and ensure that the delivery system in their respective countries is performing. People are adamant about refusing marginalisation, estrangement, injustice and absence of human rights. Growth should be more equitably benefited from. Both gains and pains should be distributed through a process leading to rational decisions and national consensus. Arab countries do not export either labour or capital. All now suffer from poverty, unemployment, especially among the youth, bad management of resources, rentierism, centralised authorities and failure to reach marginal areas. No single country can in a reasonable span of time overcome all of these difficulties. “Solutions” that keeps thing as they are do not fool people anymore. Most deeply entrenched problems in the Arab world are not strictly economic or social. They are all multifaceted. Unemployment, poverty, a deteriorating middle class and unsatisfactory dualistic education systems are all social and economic problems. The Arab Economic Charter tries to determine the main areas of concern and some sort of a roadmap. It defies the common pessimistic notion that things are not reversible and that it is too late. Thinkers believe firmly that they should always voice their opinion. They need to keep the flicker of hope alive. They are followers of Confucius in that sense.   The writer, a former Royal Court chief and deputy prime minister, is a member of the Senate. He contributed this article to The Jordan Times. - See more at: http://www.jordantimes.com/opinion/jawad-anani/arab-economic-charter#sth...