Robustness Of Rationalism
In the journal article “The Robustness of Authoritarianism in the Middle East, Exceptionalism in Comparative Perspective” by Eva Bellin is an article that is critically acclaimed. Eva Bellin tries to answer the question why the Middle East and North Africa is overwhelmingly Authoritarian and is resistant to the third wave of democrazation. The author finds that despite the MENA (Middle East and North Africa anagram) region not meeting the “prerequisites” of democracy, the region is able to use coercive apparatus with the help of will and capacity is able to repress the democratic transition. A major critique that can made of the essay is evidence, despite being sufficient, focuses more on other regions such as Eastern Europe, Latin America,
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All four of these regions are each different in their own way through culture, politics, religion, etc. that it can easily cause problems. For example, Latin America and Middle East, despite both starting as colonies, operate in different ways. Bellin mentions in the beginning of the article that the numbers for the America’s has doubled but Middle East and North Africa had not made major improvement (Bellin 139). Latin America was colonized in the 15th century while Arab world wasn’t colonized until pre and post World War One (Bishara’s Notes). Bellin also mentions in her article briefly about colonization and the effects it had on the MENA region; “First, experiments in political liberalization are historically identified with colonial determination rather then self-determination (in contrast to India). Earlier half-hearted attempts carried out under British and French mandates were more window-dressing for foreign domination rather than substantive experiments in self rule.”(Belin, 150). Another major different is the idea of renter state. Eva Bellin mentions it briefly in her essay in explaining why they are able to have such an intricate coercive apparatus; “Here is where the access to rent comes into play. This access has been long distinguished in the region… in many states across the region.” (Bellin,
All four of these regions are each different in their own way through culture, politics, religion, etc. that it can easily cause problems. For example, Latin America and Middle East, despite both starting as colonies, operate in different ways. Bellin mentions in the beginning of the article that the numbers for the America’s has doubled but Middle East and North Africa had not made major improvement (Bellin 139). Latin America was colonized in the 15th century while Arab world wasn’t colonized until pre and post World War One (Bishara’s Notes). Bellin also mentions in her article briefly about colonization and the effects it had on the MENA region; “First, experiments in political liberalization are historically identified with colonial determination rather then self-determination (in contrast to India). Earlier half-hearted attempts carried out under British and French mandates were more window-dressing for foreign domination rather than substantive experiments in self rule.”(Belin, 150). Another major different is the idea of renter state. Eva Bellin mentions it briefly in her essay in explaining why they are able to have such an intricate coercive apparatus; “Here is where the access to rent comes into play. This access has been long distinguished in the region… in many states across the region.” (Bellin,