The arc of crisis in the Mena region : fragmentation, decentralization, and Islamist opposition

• Information

  DESCRIPTION

  193 pages : color illustrations

  DISCIPLINES

  • Political science
  • Islam and religions originating in it
  • Political Theory

  NOTE

  • Includes bibliographical references.
  • The volume deals with the countries of the Middle East and North Africa that are facing a particularly troubled period in their historical development. Syria, Iraq, Libya, Egypt and to a lesser extent Jordan and Tunisia have plunged into a legitimacy crisis that in some cases has turned into civil war or violent upheaval. As traditional authorities lose their legitimacy, two alternatives are emerging. The first is a more decentralized system of government, evinced by the empowerment of subnational government bodies and the growing legitimacy of local authorities; in this trend, the local authorities are able to keep the state united and more functional.
  • The second is a growing number of political groups that act as opposition to authoritarianism, which is experiencing a revival. The analysis herein also focuses on Islamist movements; namely, their organizational and ideological development as well as how the shrinking of the political space affects them and the entire polity. This Report explores the distinctive dynamics and characteristics of these challenges in the post-Arab Spring era. [Publisher's text]
  • Collected essays.
• In this volume

  • A Renewed Arc of Crisis in the MENA Region
  • Framework
  • From Fragmentation to Decentralization : An Overview
  • Decentralization in Tunisia : Its Utility and Competing Visions for Implementation
  • Decentralization : The Last Resort for Libya?
  • Decentralization in the Syrian Context
  • Iraq : From Fragmentation to (De)Centralization?
  • Islamist-Inspired Groups After the Arab Spring
  • Mainstream Institutionalization vs Disenfranchised Radicalization in Tunisia
  • What Happened to Political Islam in Libya?
  • Egyptian Islamists in the Labyrinth
  • Political Islam in Jordan : A Plurality of Visions
  • The Geopolitics of Eastern Mediterranean Energy
  • Acknowledgments
  • About the Authors