Democracy and Authoritarianism in the Arab World

Democracy and Authoritarianism in the Arab World
Author: Nicola Christine Pratt
Publisher:
Total Pages: 258
Release: 2007
Genre: Political Science
ISBN:

Representing a departure from studies of Middle East politics and democratisation, this book employs theories and concepts to the study of democracy and authoritarianism in the Arab world. It examines the role of non-state actors, civil society, in the maintenance of or resistance to the discourse that underpins authoritarian politics.

Debating Arab Authoritarianism

Debating Arab Authoritarianism
Author: Oliver Schlumberger
Publisher:
Total Pages: 368
Release: 2007-11-20
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN:

Examines how political rule in Arab countries is effectuated, organized, and executed, and how authoritarianism works in practice and how it can be grasped conceptually.

The New Authoritarianism in the Middle East and North Africa

The New Authoritarianism in the Middle East and North Africa
Author: Stephen J. King
Publisher: Indiana University Press
Total Pages: 289
Release: 2009-10-28
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 0253004004

Stephen J. King considers the reasons that international and domestic efforts toward democratization have failed to take hold in the Arab world. Focusing on Egypt, Tunisia, Syria, and Algeria, he suggests that a complex set of variables characterizes authoritarian rule and helps to explain both its dynamism and its persistence. King addresses, but moves beyond, how religion and the strongly patriarchal culture influence state structure, policy configuration, ruling coalitions, and legitimization and privatization strategies. He shows how the transformation of authoritarianism has taken place amid shifting social relations and political institutions and how these changes have affected the lives of millions. Ultimately, King's forward-thinking analysis offers a way to enhance the prospects for democracy in the Middle East and North Africa.

Authoritarian Elections and Opposition Groups in the Arab World

Authoritarian Elections and Opposition Groups in the Arab World
Author: Gail J. Buttorff
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 204
Release: 2018-12-13
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 331992186X

This book examines how opposition groups respond to the dilemma posed by authoritarian elections in the Arab World, with specific focus on Jordan and Algeria. While scholars have investigated critical questions such as why authoritarian rulers would hold elections and whether such elections lead to further political liberalization, there has been comparatively little work on the strategies adopted by opposition groups during authoritarian elections. Nevertheless, we know their strategic choices can have important implications for the legitimacy of the electoral process, reform, democratization, and post-election conflicts. This project fills in an important gap in our understanding of opposition politics under authoritarianism by offering an explanation for the range of strategies adopted by opposition groups in the face of contentious elections in the Arab World.

Beyond the Arab Spring

Beyond the Arab Spring
Author: Rex Brynen
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2012
Genre: Arab countries
ISBN: 9781588268532

For years the authoritarian regimes of the Arab world displayed remarkable persistence. Then, beginning in December 2010, much of the region underwent rapid and remarkable political change. This volume explores the precursors, nature, and trajectory of the dynamics unleashed by the Arab Spring.

The Lure of Authoritarianism

The Lure of Authoritarianism
Author: Stephen J. King
Publisher: Indiana University Press
Total Pages: 365
Release: 2019-04-04
Genre: History
ISBN: 0253040892

The works collected in The Lure of Authoritarianism consider the normative appeal of authoritarianism in light of the 2011 popular uprisings in the Middle East. Despite what seemed to be a popular revolution in favor of more democratic politics, there has instead been a slide back toward authoritarian regimes that merely gesture toward notions of democracy. In the chaos that followed the Arab Spring, societies were lured by the prospect of strong leaders with firm guiding hands. The shift toward normalizing these regimes seems sudden, but the works collected in this volume document a gradual shift toward support for authoritarianism over democracy that stretches back decades in North Africa. Contributors consider the ideological, socioeconomic, and security-based justifications of authoritarianism as well as the surprising and vigorous reestablishment of authoritarianism in these regions. With careful attention to local variations and differences in political strategies, the volume provides a nuanced and sweeping consideration of the changes in the Middle East in the past and what they mean for the future.

Political Liberalization and Democratization in the Arab World

Political Liberalization and Democratization in the Arab World
Author: Rex Brynen
Publisher: Lynne Rienner Publishers
Total Pages: 364
Release: 1995
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 9781555875794

The Arab world is experiencing a variety of factors - internal and external - that are leading to change. This work examines such factors that are shaping political liberalisation and democratisation in the Arab context, as well as the role played by particular social groups.

The Arab Spring

The Arab Spring
Author: Jason Brownlee
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 353
Release: 2015
Genre: History
ISBN: 0199660069

Several years after the Arab Spring began, democracy remains elusive in the Middle East. While Tunisia has made progress towards democracy, other countries that overthrew their rulers - Egypt, Yemen, and Libya - remain in authoritarianism and instability. This volume provides a foundational exploration of the Arab Spring's successes and failures.

Political Participation in the Middle East

Political Participation in the Middle East
Author: Ellen Lust
Publisher:
Total Pages: 314
Release: 2008
Genre: Political Science
ISBN:

Political participation in authoritarian regimes is usually considered insignificant, or important only insofar as it promotes democracy. Turning this common wisdom on its head, Political Participation in the Middle East demonstrates the vitality, variety, and significance of political activism across the MENA region. Through an in-depth exploration of seven countries, the authors address how formal and informal political institutions create opportunities for participation in venues as varied as trade unions, civic associations, political parties, and elections. And, without losing sight of the fact that authoritarian regimes manipulate participation to reinforce their rule, they reveal ways in which citizens do benefit?by influencing decision-making, for example, or obtaining state resources. An engaging read for scholars and students, this work vividly illustrates how citizens matter in the politics of authoritarian regimes.