Gauging Arab Support for Democracy

Tessler, Mark; Gao, Eleanor

doi:10.1353/jod.2005.0054

Cited by 63 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Survey results suggest that Arabs do not necessarily prefer secular democracy: 56% of Arab respondents agreed that religious authorities should influence government decisions, while 44% disagreed (Jamal & Tessler, 2008). Other studies have also found that significant proportions of Arabs with a preference for a democratic political system believe that Islam should play an important role in political affairs (Jamal, 2006;Mogahed, 2006;Tessler & Gao, 2005;Tessler, Moaddel, & Inglehart, 2006).…”

Section: Democracy and Islammentioning

confidence: 99%

Arabs Want Democracy, but What Kind?

Regt¹

2013

AASoci

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In recent times, Arabs have shown the world that they are ready for additional democratic reforms. We must nevertheless question what democracy means to them. How do they think about the role of religious leaders in democracy? Does democracy imply extending the rights of women? How do Arabs see the connection between democracy and a prosperous economy? Answers to these and similar questions are important in order to interpret the high levels of support for democracy that are being observed in the Arab world, as well as the possible outcomes of the Arab spring. It is also important to examine whether Arabs have a common understanding of democracy or whether they disagree on the form that democracy should take. Wide variations in the meaning of democracy could retard the process of democratization. In this article, public opinion data from Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, and Morocco are used to develop a detailed image of what democracy means to Arabs.

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Section: Democracy and Islammentioning

confidence: 99%

Arabs Want Democracy, but What Kind?

Regt¹

2013

AASoci

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“…Whereas most studies limited their analysis to reductionist and socio-cultural explanations (Huntington, 1993) and Lewis, (2003), recent research has turned to the study of public opinion in order to better map the values and attitudes of Arab citizens (Tessler & Gao, 2005;Jamal % Tessler, 2008). Democracy has become the norm rather than the exception in political systems across the globe; variations in how democracy is practiced can be expected.…”

Section: A Theoretical Detour Through Democratization Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

“…This view is emphasized by Kornberg and Clarke 1992 as they note : "Citizens beliefs, attitudes and opinions lie at the heart of democratic theory and practice" (1992, p. 61). This support seems to transcend cultures, religions and economic status, making democracy the most desired political order at least by name (Tessler & Gao, 2005;Mcallister, 2008).…”

Section: A Theoretical Detour Through Democratization Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

AN ASSESMENT of DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION in the ARAB WORLD THE CASE of ALGERİA

Mohammed¹,

Rumman²

2010

Ankyra Ankara

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ABSTRACT:This paper aims at reviewing the theoretical and empirical literature related to the evolution of democracy in the Arab world with specific focus on Algerian democratic transition in the last two decades. The paper attempts to find answers to a number of questions related to the nature and directions of how Algeria has been ruled since independence and to show how democracy is interpreted and perceived by the rulers and people. In order to understand the democratic development and transition of Arab states including Algeria, light will be shed on the modern theory of democracy from multiple perspectives. In this case the paper is descriptive in nature. This approach is often pursued by researchers assessing political phenomena (Rose, 2001;Talbi and Spencer, 2000) . It has long been debated that the root causes of a "democratic deficit" in Arab societies are linked to cultural issues, lags in economic development and to colonial history and international factors that continue to play a significant role in shaping the political landscape in the region. However, this paper assumes that, taking Algerian case as an example the control of one-party rule or one-individual rule is taking priority over democratic choice. There is evidence that there is no real circulation of power, as it is the case in modern democratic systems. Continuing violence and bloody military coups that accompanied the evolution of democratic transition supports this conclusion. In Algeria, the president is the person who receives the blessing of the military and western support. This is evident in the exclusion of rivals for the presidency under false pretenses.Keywords: Democracy  Algeria  transition  Arab world  conflict. ARAP DÜNYASINDA DEMOKRATİK GEÇİŞ SÜRECİNİN BİR DEĞERLENDİRMESİ: CEZAYİR ÖRNEĞİ ÖZET:Bu çalışma, geçtiğimiz yirmi yıllık dönem içerisinde Cezayir'de yaşanan demokrasiye geçiş sürecinden yola

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“…During the 1980s and early 1990s there were gradual movements toward democratization in some Arab-majority countries, when a number of Arab governments were confronted with popular anger fueled by poor economic conditions, official corruption, and human rights abuses enacted programs of political liberalization. 70 The Arab world continues to stand out as a region for its limited progress toward democracy, but it also stands out on account of its high degree of popular support for democracy. 71 The last few years have brought continued political reform in some Arab societies, among these are Bahrain, Lebanon, Morocco, Qatar, and, to a lesser extent, Algeria, Jordan, Yemen, and Palestine.…”

Section: Arab Support For Democracymentioning

confidence: 99%

The Case for Democracy as a Long Term National Strategy

Walsh¹

2007

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Gauging Arab Support for Democracy

Cited by 63 publications

References 12 publications

Arabs Want Democracy, but What Kind?

Arabs Want Democracy, but What Kind?

AN ASSESMENT of DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION in the ARAB WORLD THE CASE of ALGERİA

The Case for Democracy as a Long Term National Strategy

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