Publication

This paper examines the form of authoritarian governance that has prevailed in the Arab region since the the 2011 Arab Spring. The authors contend that while the authoritarianism present in the region prior to 2011 provided at least a minimum of domestic and regional stability, current regimes have caused 1) unprecedented levels of mass repression; 2) a shift from non-violent to armed rebellion; 3) state collapse; 4) the intensification of regional competition; and 5) a polarization of Arab public opinion on ideology and religion. They also argue that 1) while the turmoil in the region has deterred many citizens from calling for social, cultural and economic reform, once security has been restored in the region they will return; and 2) this means that Arab states and their international partners must work to establish a new political order in the region that responds to these calls to avoid future crises.