The New Authoritarianism in the Middle East and North Africa (Indiana Series in Middle East Studies)

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. Contents 6 Acknowledgments 8 ONE Political Openings and the Transformation of Authoritarian Rule in the Middle East and North Africa 12 TWO Sustaining Authoritarianism during the Third Wave of Democracy 26 THREE The Old Authoritarianism 40 FOUR The New Authoritarianism 97 FIVE Political Openings without Patronage-Based Privatization and Single-Party Institutional Legacies 202 SIX Transitions from the New MENA Authoritarianism to Democracy? 210 Notes 220 Bibliography 254 Index 274 0253353971,9780253353979,0253221463,9780253221469 Indiana University Press 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, this title suggests that a complex set of variables characterizes authoritarian rule and helps to explain both its dynamism and its persistence. Stephen J. King. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.