Authoritarianism in the Middle East : regimes and resistance / edited by Marsha Pripstein Posusney, Michele Penner Angrist.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 237-263) and index.

1. The Middle East's democracy deficit in comparative perspective / Marsha Pripstein Posusney -- 2. Coercive institutions and coercive leaders / Eva Bellin -- 3. Political crisis and restabilization : Iraq, Libya, Syria, and Tunisia / Jason Brownlee -- 4. Contestation without democracy : elite fragmentation in Iran / Arang Keshavarzian -- 5. Multiparty elections in the Arab world : election rules and opposition responses / Marsha Pripstein Posusney -- 6. Party systems and regime formation : Turkish exceptionalism in comparative perspective / Michele Penner Angrist -- 7. Opposition and economic crises in Jordan and Morocco / Ellen Lust-Okar -- 8. Princes, parliaments, and the prospects for democracy in the Gulf / Michael Herb -- 9. Too much civil society, too little politics? : Egypt and other liberalizing Arab regimes / Vickie Langohr -- 10. The outlook for authoritarians / Michele Penner Angrist.

"Why do authoritarian regimes prevail in the Middle East while successful democratic transitions are occurring elsewhere in the developing world? Authoritarianism in the Middle East addresses this question, focusing on the role of political institutions and the strategic choices made by both rulers and opposition challengers." "The authors eschew cultural explanations, highlighting instead the importance of robust coercive apparatuses in the region and the context of incumbent-opposition struggles. Their work sheds light on pivotal political dynamics throughout the Middle East, revealing the numerous ways in which the balance of power continues to favor the status quo."--BOOK JACKET.