The popular protests in early 2011 were seen as a turning point in the history of the Arab world, but a decade later, these hopes are largely dashed in each country swept by popular protests with the exception of Tunisia. This book provides a detailed analysis of the political, economic, and constitutional developments in Tunisia and Egypt and explores why Egypt's path to democratization was eroded by several transitional actors while Tunisian political elite managed to move the country towards democracy.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 284 pages
Publication date: 15 March 2023
Publisher: Lexington Books

The popular protests in early 2011 were once seen as a turning point in the history of the Arab world, raising hopes for democracy, freedom, and justice in the Middle East. A decade after the uprisings, these hopes are largely dashed in each country swept by popular protests with the exception of Tunisia. Tunisia became the only democracy in the entire region while Egypt saw its first freely elected president and government thrown out by the army in a bloody coup which resulted in a regime that is no less authoritarian than Mubaraks. This book provides a detailed analysis of the political, economic, and constitutional developments in Tunisia and Egypt. In the light of the existing literature on comparative democratization, the author explores why Egypt's path to democratization was eroded by several transitional actors while Tunisian political elite managed to move the country towards democracy. The book centers its focus on the role of the political agents in designing the transition and explores the transitional period with respect to the interactions among the political elite and their cost-benefit assumptions, ideological interests, as well as their commitment to democratic processes.

The Arab Spring and Its Impact on the Arab World

The Arab Spring, which began in early 2011, was a series of popular protests that swept across several Arab countries, including Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Syria. These protests were driven by a desire for democracy, freedom, and justice, and they were seen as a turning point in the history of the Arab world. However, a decade after the uprisings, these hopes are largely dashed in each country swept by popular protests with the exception of Tunisia. Tunisia became the only democracy in the entire region while Egypt saw its first freely elected president and government thrown out by the army in a bloody coup which resulted in a regime that is no less authoritarian than Mubaraks. This book provides a detailed analysis of the political, economic, and constitutional developments in Tunisia and Egypt. In the light of the existing literature on comparative democratization, the author explores why Egypt's path to democratization was eroded by several transitional actors while Tunisian political elite managed to move the country towards democracy. The book centers its focus on the role of the political agents in designing the transition and explores the transitional period with respect to the interactions among the political elite and their cost-benefit assumptions, ideological interests, as well as their commitment to democratic processes.

Tunisia: A Turning Point in the Arab World

Tunisia was one of the first countries to experience the Arab Spring, and it was also the only country to emerge from the uprisings with a democratic government. The protests in Tunisia were sparked by the high cost of living, unemployment, and political repression. The protests led to the resignation of the president and the formation of a transitional government. The transitional government was tasked with drafting a new constitution and holding elections. The new constitution was approved by referendum in 2014, and the first elections were held in 2015. Tunisia's democratic transition was characterized by a high level of participation by the people, including women and youth. The new government was also committed to promoting human rights and social justice. However, Tunisia has faced several challenges since its democratic transition, including economic inequality, political instability, and terrorism. The book provides a detailed analysis of these challenges and the government's efforts to address them.

Egypt: A Failed Transition to Democracy

Egypt was one of the first countries to experience the Arab Spring, and it was also the only country to experience a bloody coup. The protests in Egypt were sparked by the high cost of living, unemployment, and political repression. The protests led to the resignation of the president and the formation of a transitional government. The transitional government was tasked with drafting a new constitution and holding elections. However, the military intervened in the political process and threw out the elected government in a coup in 2013. The coup resulted in a regime that is no less authoritarian than Mubaraks. The book provides a detailed analysis of the coup and its impact on Egypt's democratic transition. It also explores the role of the military in Egyptian politics and the challenges faced by the civilian government in trying to restore democracy.

Libya: A Failed Transition to Democracy

Libya was one of the first countries to experience the Arab Spring, and it was also one of the most violent. The protests in Libya were sparked by the high cost of living, unemployment, and political repression. The protests led to the resignation of the president and the formation of a transitional government. The transitional government was tasked with drafting a new constitution and holding elections. However, the country was plagued by political instability and violence, and the elections were never held. The book provides a detailed analysis of the political and security situation in Libya and the challenges faced by the civilian government in trying to restore democracy.

Syria: A Failed Transition to Democracy

Syria was one of the first countries to experience the Arab Spring, and it was also one of the most violent. The protests in Syria were sparked by the high cost of living, unemployment, and political repression. The protests led to the resignation of the president and the formation of a transitional government. The transitional government was tasked with drafting a new constitution and holding elections. However, the country was plagued by political instability and violence, and the elections were never held. The book provides a detailed analysis of the political and security situation in Syria and the challenges faced by the civilian government in trying to restore democracy.

Conclusion

The Arab Spring was a series of popular protests that swept across several Arab countries, raising hopes for democracy, freedom, and justice in the Middle East. A decade after the uprisings, these hopes are largely dashed in each country swept by popular protests with the exception of Tunisia. Tunisia became the only democracy in the entire region while Egypt saw its first freely elected president and government thrown out by the army in a bloody coup which resulted in a regime that is no less authoritarian than Mubaraks. This book provides a detailed analysis of the political, economic, and constitutional developments in Tunisia and Egypt. In the light of the existing literature on comparative democratization, the author explores why Egypt's path to democratization was eroded by several transitional actors while Tunisian political elite managed to move the country towards democracy. The book centers its focus on the role of the political agents in designing the transition and explores the transitional period with respect to the interactions among the political elite and their cost-benefit assumptions, ideological interests, as well as their commitment to democratic processes.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781793610690