1.Among Eva Bellin's reasons, which one is the most important reason for the robustness of
authoritarianism in the Middle East? Why?
According to Eva Bellins the Middle East and North Africa lack the prerequisites of
democratization. The lack of a strong civil society, a market-driven economy, adequate
income and literacy levels, democratic neighbors, and democratic culture explains the
region's failure to democratize. Cumulative failure to achieve the prerequisites of democracy
clearly undermines the consolidation of democracy. Democratic transition can be carried out
successfully only when the state's coercive apparatus lacks the will or capacity to crush it.
Where that coercive apparatus remains intact and opposed to political reform,democratic
transition will not occur.
The solution to the puzzle of Middle Eastern And North African exceptionalism lies less in
absent prerequisites of democratization and more in present condition that foster robus
tauthoritarianisms,specifically robust coercive apparatus in these states. The will and capacity
of the state's coercive apparatus to suppress democratic initiative have extinguished the
possibility of transition.Herein lies the region's true exceptionalism.
Thus, authoritarianism has proven exceptionally robust in the Middle East and North Africa
because the coercive apparatus in many states has been exceptionally able and willing to
crush reform initiatives from below. No single variable, whether poor fiscal health, declining
international support, strong institutionalization,or high levels of popular mobilization,is
either necessary or sufficient condition of retreat from power by the coercive apparatus. But
these four variables have been important cross-regionally in cases of retreat. Their
performance suggests reasons why authoritarian regimes exceptionally robust there.
First, with regard to fiscal health, although many states in the Middle East and North Africa
have economic difficulties of one sort or another,few, save perhaps the Sudan,face economic
collapse of sub-Saharan Proportions. Most, moreover,enjoy sufficient revenue to sustain
exceedingly robust expenditure on their security apparatuses. In fact, these expenditures are
among the highest in the world. Finally, the percentage of population engaged in various
branches of the security apparatus is high by world standard.
With regard to international support,the region is exceptional for the unique position it enjoys
in the international arena. Authoritarian Regimes in Saudi Arabia,Egypt, Jordan,Tunisia,and
Algeria have received western support, at times in very generous proportions because of the
