Here to stay: authoritarianism in the Middle East

Authors
Publication date 2009
Journal The Broker
Volume | Issue number 13
Pages (from-to) 4-7
Organisations
  • Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences (FMG) - Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research (AISSR)
Abstract Autocratic regimes in the Middle East will continue to coexist with capitalism.
Six structural factors strengthen authoritarianism: oil rents, protectionism in a globalized economy, the threat of ethnic and other cleavages, external threats, patrimonial networks, and cultural traditions.
Outside interventions to impose democracy will not succeed; at the same time Western support for non-democratic regimes undermines Western credibility.
Only slow and careful cooperation with existing (secular and religious) groups might contribute to democracy in the long term.
Document type Article
Language English
Published at http://www.thebrokeronline.eu/en/Articles/Here-to-stay
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