Democracy in the Arab world : explaining the deficit

Co-published with RoutledgeThis book examines what underlies the democracy deficit in the Arab world, along with prospects for deepening the process of democratization. Contributions from major scholars provide a cross-country analysis of economic development, political institutions and social factors, and the impact of oil wealth and regional wars. Case studies are drawn from Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Sudan, and the Gulf region. Looking beyond the influence of oil and conflicts, the chapters illustrate how specific socio-political history, fear of fundamentalist groups, collusion with foreign powers and foreign interventions, and the co-option of elites by the state also contribute to these problems