The region of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) appears to be an exception when it comes to the persistence of authoritarianism. Whereas most other regions in the world have embarked upon a path of democratisation, trends in the MENA appear to be adverse. Not only is the MENA’s record appalling in terms of electoral democracies, but the region, on average, has not experienced an improvement in civil liberties and political rights for the last thirty years. This paper will look at two aspects concerning the persistence of authoritarianism in the region. The principal aim will be to analyse what the principle cause for the persistence of authoritarianism in the MENA is. A secondary objective will be to establish whether the term MENA exceptionalism is applicable, or whether the persistence of authoritarianism in the region can be explained through general theories on the subject.
The paper analyses the reasons why scholars deem the MENA to be exceptional, and which variables they believe contribute to the persistence of authoritarianism in the region. Those arguments are then refuted, arguing instead that rentierism is the principal independent variable with regards to the robustness of authoritarian regimes in the MENA. The focus then shifts to the concept of rentierism in general and more specifically its relation to oil rich countries. Finally the paper looks at how oil poor countries also benefit from rents and how it is possible that levels of authoritarianism in oil rich countries are not hugely affected by oil price fluctuations.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. MENA Exeptionalism?
3. Oil Rents and the Persistence of Authoritarianism
4. Alternative Sources of Rent
5. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper aims to investigate the primary drivers behind the persistence of authoritarian regimes in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. It specifically examines whether the region exhibits a unique "exceptionalism" that resists global trends of democratization, or if the stability of these regimes can be understood through the lens of rentier state theory.
- The theoretical debate surrounding MENA exceptionalism versus general political science theories.
- The relationship between oil-based wealth (rentierism) and the robustness of authoritarian control.
- The significance of alternative rent sources, such as strategic, political, and migration rents, in non-oil producing nations.
- The critique of existing variables like political culture, state coercion, and civil society weakness as primary determinants.
Excerpt from the Book
Oil Rents and the Persistence of Authoritarianism
This paper argues that rentierism is principally responsible for the widespread and persistent nature of authoritarianism in the MENA. This paragraph will show that, although other variables, as mentioned above, do contribute to the persistence of authoritarianism in the region, they are more a determinant of how effective an authoritarian regimes are rather than why the regime is in fact authoritarian. This paragraph also examines authoritarian persistence in relation to theories on civil war onset and political instability. The robustness of authoritarian governments is linked to the political stability in their respective countries. Smith (2003) argues that political instability can lead either to an outbreak of civil war or a transition to (or away from) democracy. Although revolution very rarely leads to the establishment of a democratic regime, especially in oil producing countries (Smith 2006), the lack of one still points to political stability and thus the robustness of the authoritarian regime.
Rentierism can be defined as followed: “a rentier state is characterized by high dependence on external rents produced by a few economic resources, not from production (labour), investment (interest), or management of risk (profit)” [Jensen and Wantchekon in] (Gurses: 509). In much of the literature this concept is linked to the availability of natural resources and specifically oil in the MENA. Rent seeking increases the robustness of authoritarian regimes in two principal ways: first the repression effect allows authoritarian regimes to use revenues to prop up their security apparatus (Bellin 2004), consisting of a powerful military and/or intelligence service (mukhaberat) (Kamrava 1998). Alternatively rentierism can lead to the ‘taxation effect’: no representation without taxation. In other words it takes away a governments accountability. Also distribution of revenues from rents in the form of schools, hospitals etc., lends legitimacy to authoritarian regimes. Finally rents may be distributed selectively to create clientelist networks which lend authoritarian rulers greater security in maintaining their position (Basedau and Lacher 2006).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Introduces the persistence of authoritarianism in the MENA region and sets the research goal of analyzing rentierism as the primary cause for this phenomenon.
2. MENA Exeptionalism?: Discusses the academic discourse on whether the MENA region follows unique, exceptional patterns or if its authoritarian stability can be explained through broader comparative political theories.
3. Oil Rents and the Persistence of Authoritarianism: Analyzes the mechanism of rentier states, detailing how oil revenues provide regimes with the means for repression, clientelism, and political stability.
4. Alternative Sources of Rent: Examines how non-oil rich countries in the region also sustain authoritarian rule through strategic, location, political, and migration rents.
5. Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings, confirming that while exceptions exist, the MENA region is not inherently exceptional but rather uniquely positioned to access various forms of external rent.
Keywords
Authoritarianism, MENA, Rentierism, Democratization, Political Stability, Oil Rents, Coercive Apparatus, Clientelism, State Expenditure, Political Transition, Repression Effect, Taxation Effect, Resource Curse, External Rents, Middle East
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on understanding why authoritarian regimes have remained so persistent in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region despite global trends favoring democratization.
What are the primary themes discussed in the study?
Central themes include the validity of "MENA exceptionalism," the impact of oil wealth (rentierism) on regime survival, the role of external rents in non-oil countries, and the effectiveness of coercive state apparatuses.
What is the main research objective?
The primary aim is to identify the principle cause of authoritarian persistence in the MENA and to determine whether this persistence is unique to the region or explainable by general political theories.
Which scientific methodology is applied here?
The paper utilizes a comparative analysis approach, evaluating existing academic literature, case studies, and theoretical frameworks regarding political transition and rentier state theory.
What does the main body of the text cover?
The body covers arguments refuting culturalist approaches to MENA politics, details the "repression" and "taxation" effects of rentierism, and categorizes various non-oil related rents that sustain regimes.
How would you describe the key characteristics of this study using keywords?
The study is characterized by concepts such as rentierism, authoritarian robustness, political liberalisation, external rents, and the structural analysis of Middle Eastern political economies.
Does the author believe that Islam is responsible for the lack of democracy in the MENA?
No, the author cites various scholars to refute the "orientalist" approach, arguing that there is no empirical evidence that Islam is inherently incompatible with democratic governance.
How do oil-poor countries maintain authoritarian regimes according to the paper?
The paper argues that these countries utilize alternative rents—such as strategic, location, political, and migration rents—to fund their coercive apparatuses and maintain social control.
What role does the "repression effect" play in authoritarian stability?
The repression effect refers to the ability of a regime to use revenue from rents to finance powerful military and intelligence services, thereby effectively suppressing opposition and preventing political mobilization.
Is the MENA region considered truly "exceptional" by the author?
The author concludes that the region is not inherently exceptional in its political nature, but rather it has an unusual and extensive access to various forms of external rent compared to other developing regions.
- Quote paper
- Ralph Myers (Author), 2009, Persistence of Authoritarianism in the Middle East and North Africa, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/159578
