1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910789973103321

Autore

Stacher Joshua <1975->

Titolo

Adaptable autocrats : regime power in Egypt and Syria / / Joshua Stacher

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Stanford, CA : , : Stanford University Press, , [2020]

©2012

ISBN

0-8047-8209-1

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (241 pages)

Collana

Stanford Studies in Middle Eastern and Islamic Societies and Cultures

Disciplina

956.7104/2

Soggetti

Authoritarianism - Egypt

Authoritarianism - Syria

Comparative government

Dictatorship - Egypt

Dictatorship - Syria

Egypt Politics and government 1981-

Syria Politics and government 2000-

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di contenuto

Front matter -- Contents -- Acknowledgments -- Abbreviations and Acronyms -- Introduction. Changing to Stay the Same -- 1. Debating Authoritarianism -- 2. The Origins of Executive Authority -- 3. Adaptation and Elite Co-optation -- 4. Adaptation and Nonelite Co-optation -- 5. The 2011 Uprisings and the Future of Autocratic Adaptation -- Notes -- References -- Index

Sommario/riassunto

The decades-long resilience of Middle Eastern regimes meant that few anticipated the 2011 Arab Spring. But from the seemingly rapid leadership turnovers in Tunisia and Egypt to the protracted stalemates in Yemen and Syria, there remains a common outcome: ongoing control of the ruling regimes. While some analysts and media outlets rush to look for democratic breakthroughs, autocratic continuity—not wide-ranging political change—remains the hallmark of the region's upheaval. Contrasting Egypt and Syria, Joshua Stacher examines how executive power is structured in each country to show how these preexisting power configurations shaped the uprisings and, in turn, the



outcomes. Presidential power in Egypt was centralized. Even as Mubarak was forced to relinquish the presidency, military generals from the regime were charged with leading the transition. The course of the Syrian uprising reveals a key difference: the decentralized character of Syrian politics. Only time will tell if Asad will survive in office, but for now, the regime continues to unify around him. While debates about election timetables, new laws, and the constitution have come about in Egypt, bloody street confrontations continue to define Syrian politics—the differences in authoritarian rule could not be more stark. Political structures, elite alliances, state institutions, and governing practices are seldom swept away entirely—even following successful revolutions—so it is vital to examine the various contexts for regime survival. Elections, protests, and political struggles will continue to define the region in the upcoming years. Examining the lead-up to the Egyptian and Syrian uprisings helps us unlock the complexity behind the protests and transitions. Without this understanding, we lack a roadmap to make sense of the Middle East's most important political moment in decades.