Democratic Transitions in the Arab World

A cross-country examination of authoritarianism and democracy in North Africa and the Middle East.

Ibrahim Elbadawi (Edited by), Samir Makdisi (Edited by)

9781107164208, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 5 January 2017

354 pages
23.5 x 15.7 x 2.2 cm, 0.61 kg

'The book provides ample amounts of data and thorough economic analyses which caters to the cross-country study of the relationship between democracy and the Arab world in general and with respect to specific countries like Tunisia, Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, Kuwait and Sudan. The volume combines plenty of primary data from various countries within a convincing analytical and quantitative approach.' Zeba Khan, Democratization

In the wake of the unprecedented uprisings that swept across North Africa and the Middle East in late 2010 and 2011, there was much speculation that these events heralded the beginning of a new age of democratic transition across the region. The result of a four-year research project, this book offers a cross-country analysis of the dynamics of democratic transition and of the state of democracy and authoritarianism from Tunisia, Sudan and Egypt to Syria, Kuwait and Lebanon. Elbadawi and Makdisi identify specific economic, political and social conditions influencing the transition across the region and in each of the individual countries, as well as the requisite conditions for consolidating democracy once the process is initiated. It examines the struggling, halted and painful transitions, where these have for the time being failed, as well as instances in which democratic consolidation can be observed. This is a unique and wide-ranging examination of Arab development and democracy for those examining the fate of authoritarian regimes.

Introduction Ibrahim Elbadawi and Samir Makdisi
Part I. Conceptual and Cross-Country Perspectives: 1. Explaining democratic transitions in the Arab world Ibrahim Elbadawi and Samir Makdisi
2. Overcoming induced insecurities: stabilising Arab democracies after the Spring Abdelwahab El-Affendi
Part II. Case Studies: Successful, Protracted and Painful Transitions: 3. Tunisia: the prospects for democratic consolidation Mongi Boughzala and Saoussen Ben Romdhane
4. Egypt: the protracted transition from authoritarianism to democracy and social justice Noha El Mikawy, Mohamed Mohieddin and Sarah El Ashmaouy
5. Syria: the painful transition towards democracy Raed Safadi and Simon Neaime
6. Kuwaiti democracy: elusive or resilient? Ibrahim Elbadawi and Atif Kubursi
7. Lebanon: sectarian consociationalism and the transition to a fully fledged democracy Samir Makdisi and Youssef El Khalil
8. Sudan: transition to democracy after 2011, a dismembered state navigating uncertainties Atta Elbattahani
Part III. Concluding Observations: 9. Resistance to and prospects for democracy Ibrahim Elbadawi and Samir Makdisi.

Subject Areas: Constitution: government & the state [JPHC]