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Preference for Democracy in the Arab World

Author

Listed:
  • Mohamad Al-Ississ

    (School of Business, The American University in Cairo, Egypt)

  • Ishac Diwan

    (Paris Sciences et Lettres, France, and Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University, USA)

Abstract

We take a new look at the question of the Arab democratic exception by looking at the preference for democracy among individuals in the Arab world in a comparative context. We use the new sixth wave of the World Value Survey, which was collected between 2012 and 2013, and which included for the first time 12 Arab countries (up from only four in wave 5) and 68 non-Arab countries. We innovate empirically by measuring the preference for democracy over strong rule in a way that, we argue, is more adapted to an understanding of the Arab world than other measures used in past studies. Our statistical analysis reveals a democratic gap in the Arab region compared to global experience, which is especially marked among the more educated individuals, and to a lesser extent among the youth and the middle class. We conclude by discussing the reasons that may explain the Arab exceptionalism, and argue that it is unlikely to be related to culture alone.

Suggested Citation

  • Mohamad Al-Ississ & Ishac Diwan, 2016. "Preference for Democracy in the Arab World," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 4(4), pages 16-26.
    • Handle: RePEc:cog:poango:v4:y:2016:i:4:p:16-26
    DOI: 10.17645/pag.v4i4.753
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Henry,Clement Moore & Springborg,Robert, 2010. "Globalization and the Politics of Development in the Middle East," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521737449, November.
    2. Lipset, Seymour Martin, 1959. "Some Social Requisites of Democracy: Economic Development and Political Legitimacy1," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 53(1), pages 69-105, March.
    3. Ishac Diwan, 2014. "Understanding Revolution In The Middle East: The Central Role Of The Middle Class," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Ishac Diwan (ed.), UNDERSTANDING THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF THE ARAB UPRISINGS, chapter 3, pages 29-56, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    4. Chekir Hamouda & Diwan Ishac, 2014. "Crony Capitalism in Egypt," Journal of Globalization and Development, De Gruyter, vol. 5(2), pages 177-211, December.
    5. Caroline Freund & Melise Jaud, 2014. "On The Determinants Of Democratic Transitions," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Ishac Diwan (ed.), UNDERSTANDING THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF THE ARAB UPRISINGS, chapter 5, pages 81-110, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    6. Henry,Clement Moore & Springborg,Robert, 2010. "Globalization and the Politics of Development in the Middle East," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521519397, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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