New Authoritarian Practices in the Middle East and North Africa

New authoritarian practices in the Middle East and North Africa have developed in the aftermath of major uprisings, including digital surveillance, protest policing, control over the judiciary, civil society, and media, as well as intimidation, imprisonment, torture, extrajudicial killing, and ill treatment of dissidents.

Format: Hardback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 30 June 2022
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

This comprehensive collection delves into the emergence of novel authoritarian practices in 16 Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) countries following significant uprisings across the region. These practices encompass a wide range of measures, including:
1. Expanded digital surveillance: Implementing sophisticated surveillance systems to monitor and control citizens' activities.
2. New protest policing strategies: Employing aggressive tactics to suppress and disperse protests, including the use of tear gas, rubber bullets, and mass arrests.
3. Enhanced control over the judiciary, civil society, and media: Restricting the independence and autonomy of these institutions through legislation, regulations, and intimidation tactics.
4. Introduction of new security and communication laws: Enacting laws that grant the government extensive powers to monitor and intercept communications, conduct surveillance, and restrict civil liberties.
5. Declaration of state of emergencies: Invoking emergency powers to suspend civil rights, curtail freedoms, and suppress dissent, often without proper judicial oversight.

In addition to these practices, the book also highlights the persistence of past authoritarian methods, such as intimidation, imprisonment, torture, extrajudicial killings, and ill-treatment of dissidents. These methods are employed alongside other tactics to suppress dissent, control activists, opposition parties, the judiciary, and the media.

By examining micro-practices of repression, New Authoritarian Practices in the Middle East and North Africa strikes a balance between macro-structural explanations of authoritarian persistence and the widespread social discontent and opposition that fuel these authoritarian trends. The authors argue that these practices are not isolated incidents but rather part of a broader pattern of repression and control that has been prevalent in the region for many years.

The collection provides valuable insights into the challenges faced by MENA countries in transitioning from authoritarian regimes to democratic societies. It highlights the need for robust civil society organizations, independent media, and strong legal frameworks to protect against the erosion of human rights and promote democratic governance.

Overall, New Authoritarian Practices in the Middle East and North Africa is a crucial contribution to the study of authoritarianism and governance in the region. It offers a comprehensive analysis of the emerging trends in authoritarianism and provides valuable recommendations for policymakers, activists, and scholars seeking to promote democracy and human rights in the MENA region.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781474489409