PROGRAM OCCASIONAL PAPER SERIES Spring 2014
MIDDLE EAST PROGRAM OCCASIONAL PAPER SERIES SPRING 2014 MIDDLE EAST PROGRAM SPRING OCCASIONAL PAPER SERIES 2014 Democratic Transitions and the Problem of Power Three years after than any since Gamal Abdel Nasser’s days; as Marina Ottaway, the beginning of a result, a new process of democratization is Senior Scholar, Woodrow Wilson International the Arab upris- unlikely to start without other uprisings. Center for Scholars ings, Tunisia and There are some superficial similarities Egypt are moving in the two countries’ experiences. In both, in different direc- change started with a popular uprising, yet tions. Tunisia has neither underwent a revolution—the eco- achieved consid- nomic and social elite is still intact, and erable success in even the old political elite is still part of the adopting a constitution through a process that, process. And in neither country did the upris- despite delays, interruptions, and other crises, ings generate new political forces capable of has remained reasonably democratic. While becoming direct participants in politics, rather still a long way from being a consolidated than influencing the political process sporadi- democracy, the country may yet become one cally through street action. Even in Tunisia, without further upheavals. Not so in Egypt, where real change took place, it was through which has reverted to an authoritarian and the influence of old rather than new political repressive regime, more openly militaristic forces. 1 MIDDLE EAST PROGRAM OCCASIONAL PAPER SERIES SPRING 2014 About the Middle East Program Director The Middle East Program was launched in February 1998 in light of Dr. Haleh Esfandiari increased U.S.
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