The New Authoritarianism in the Middle East and North Africa

The New Authoritarianism in the Middle East and North Africa considers why international and domestic pressures toward democratization have failed to take hold in the Arab world. With a focus on Egypt, Tunisia, Syria, and Algeria, Stephen J. King presents a complex set of variables to characterize authoritarian rule and to understand both its dynamism and stubborn 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. King shows how the transformation of authoritarianism has taken place among shifting social relations and political institutions and how these changes effect the lives of millions. Ultimately, King's forward-thinking analysis proposes a way to establish future prospects for democracy in the Middle East and North Africa.

"Throws a new cast on Arab political systems and particularly on democratization and privatization." --I. William Zartman, Johns Hopkins University

"This is another, very worthwhile, study in a slowly growing field of work trying to explain the persistence of authoritarian rule in the Arab world..." --International Affairs, 86:5, 2010

"This book sets itself apart from other political science research by adopting a critical, evidence-based and systematic approach in analyzing how economic reforms have made authoritarianism stronger in the region, counter to popular beliefs." --Journal of International Affairs Indiana University Press Indiana University Press

"The book is well written, well-researched and ably constructed. It reads well, follows a clear and consistently logical structure, and draws on a rich variety of sources.... In general, the author's arguments are fair, responsible and balanced--no mean feat when dealing with issues as complex and sensitive as authoritarianism versus democracy in the Arab world." --Bustan: Middle East Book Review Indiana University Press

"[T]his book is important for our understanding of authoritarian persistence, the political economy of economic liberalization and the current breakdown of authoritarian upgrading in the Middle East." --Perspectives on Politics

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.

Stephen J. King is Associate Professor of Government at Georgetown University. He is author of Liberalization against Democracy: The Local Politics of Economic Reform in Tunisia (IUP, 2003).

Acknowledgments

1. Political Openings and the Transformation of Authoritarian Rule in the Middle East and North Africa

2. Sustaining Authoritarianism during the Third Wave of Democracy

3. The Old Authoritarianism

4. The New Authoritarianism

5. Political Openings without Patronage-Based Privatization and Single-Party Institutional Legacies

6. Transitions from the New MENA Authoritarianism to Democracy?

Notes

Bibliography

Index