Authoritarian Republics POLS1270 Prof. M. Cammett Feb , 2012

Authoritarian Republics in the MENA Cases: Egypt, Syria & Tunisia – Formal and informal features of the political system – How do rulers rule? 3 Areas of Focus: System of government & control (as evolved to present) Opposition & civil society Political economy How it sustains/undermines authoritarian rule  Backdrop to the uprisings

Egypt: System of Government & Rule Background to the Free Officers Revolution (1952) Monarchy & British rule Parliamentary politics in inter- war Egypt Revolution!  Political and social change Nasser ( ) Sadat ( ) Governing structures: Primacy of the executive NDP Elections What was different about the 2005 elections? Methods of rule and control

Syria: System of Government & Rule The Baath Party 1963: Baath Party  military rule, populism 1969/70: Hafez al-Asad takes over - Methods of rule - Alawite privilege Baath Party principles: “Unity, Freedom, Socialism” What did this mean in practice? Formal rules (i.e., constitution) v. the reality of politics Pre-Baath Party rule: -Colonial machinations & the creation of Syria : Instability, coups, UAR ( ) Bashar al-Asad (2000-) -Generational shift -Consolidation of power

Tunisia: System of Government & Rule French colonial rule ( ) Direct rule, “civilizing mission” Anti-colonial movement: Rise of Neo-Destour & UGTT Bourguiba ( ) Sweeping political & social change 3-pronged strategy of control Ben Ali ( ) The “Tunisian Spring” ( ) Methods of authoritarian rule: Shifts from the 1990s to 2000s

Egypt: Opposition & Civil Society Three major types of opposition: Legal opposition parties (i.e., New Wafd) Open, but not legally recognized opposition movements (i.e., Muslim Brotherhood, Kifaya) Disorganized, underground opposition (i.e. Radical Islamists, internet- based groups)  Implications of type of opposition group for the uprisings Civil society: - The proliferation and evolution of CSOs - Regime methods of control: Constitutional tools Carrots Sticks

Syria: Opposition & Civil Society Main opposition groups: Radical Baathist opposition Islamist groups Other groups (1990s) Muslim Brotherhood Origins & Evolution Factions (& geographic bases) Showdown with the state  Hama Massacre (1982) Reconciliation with the state Beyond Islamists Rising civic activism in the 1990s+ Women’s groups, intellectuals, workers

Tunisia: Opposition & Civil Society Major opponents: Labor – UGTT history Islamists – MTI-Nahda – Nahda: From engagement to exile/repression and return “Secular” parties at home and abroad Legacies for the Revolution Protests in Gafsa, 2008

Egypt: Political Economy ISI: Pre-revolutionary and post-revolutionary Revolution: Social and economic change Infitah under Sadat Economic crisis  structural reforms (1990s+) Intensified reforms (2004) The rise of Gamal & co. (v. ISI interests)  Growth but corruption, inequality & limited development

Syria: Political Economy Baath “socialism” and private sector development Promoting the private sector s-early 1990s 2. Late 1990s/2000s Components of the private sector The social foundations of the Muslim Brotherhood

Tunisia: Political Economy 1960s: The collectivization experiment (Ben Salah) 1970s: Liberalization (Nouira) and the emergence of the export sector Human development: Tunisian exceptionalism 1986+: Economic crisis and liberalization  Tunisia as a “star pupil” of the IMF/World Bank Crony capitalism under Ben Ali High expectations and persistent economic challenges

Conclusion: Comparing MENA Republics Methods of rule and control The role of the party From party-state  increased personalization Social foundations of the state Populism and economic development trajectories Opposition groups: Islamists, secularists, others Responses to opposition